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FutureLearn

Nutrition and Wellbeing

University of Aberdeen via FutureLearn

Overview

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Develop the skills to evaluate nutrition information

Eating habits have drastically changed from the era of prehistoric man to modern times, as has our understanding of nutrition, diet, and disease.

On this four-week course, you’ll explore the scientific basis of human nutrition, current nutrition concepts, and controversies around nutrition.

By the end of this course, you’ll better understand your own eating habits and be able to apply your new knowledge to your own diet.

Discover what makes up a healthy and sustainable diet

This course will guide you through the different components of food and the nutrients found within. You’ll delve into energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients, all to give you a wider picture of nutrition and wellbeing.

You’ll also look at the drivers that influence our food choices, including sugar and addiction, as well as what sustainability really means and how to create a healthy, sustainable diet.

It’s long been known that food choices can both increase the risk of disease as well as help to prevent it.

You’ll investigate the impact that diet can have on decreasing the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Looking at studies into different types of nutrients and disease, you’ll focus on the effects of fish oils, fibre rich foods such as fruit and vegetables, and vegetarian diets.

Explore nutrition fads and the truth about food fortification

This course will look at the truth behind the most common nutrition misconceptions, from whether genes are to blame for the rise in obesity to whether we should all be taking vitamin D supplements.

You’ll finish this course by exploring the importance of food fortification, especially in combating dietary deficiencies, and the need to balance nutrition with physical activity.

This course is designed for anyone interested in better understanding nutrition and how to make effective changes to their own diet.

Syllabus

  • The makings of a healthy diet
    • Welcome to the course
    • Diet through the centuries
    • Components of the healthy diet
    • Nutrients in food
    • End of the week summary
  • Why do we eat what we eat?
    • Welcome to Week 2
    • Why do we eat what we eat?
    • Sustainability
    • How do we make our food choices?
    • End of the week summary
  • Food and disease - what is the weakest link?
    • Welcome to Week 3!
    • Cardiovascular diseases and diet
    • Food and cancer prevention
    • End of the week activities
  • Nutrition fads, myths and the plain truth
    • Welcome to Week 4
    • Nature vs nurture
    • Nutrition fads, myths and the plain truth
    • End of the week

Taught by

Alex Johnstone and Alex Mavroeidi

Reviews

3.5 rating, based on 6 Class Central reviews

4.6 rating at FutureLearn based on 580 ratings

Start your review of Nutrition and Wellbeing

  • Anonymous
    While the basic information of the course as it pertains to nutrients may be correct, the inflammatory "Is obesity a disease"-discussion is both out of place (Since the resulting bodyshape is only marginally relevant to the topic of Nutrition and We…
  • Robert Draper
    Straightforward basic class in nutrition and some of the ideas surrounding nutrition such as food addiction, sustainability and epigenetics. Well presented and clearly written, in Futurelearn's familiar bite-sized topic chunks with a good discussion going on in parallel. Well worth a look if you are new to the subject.
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  • Cyn Gar

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