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Nutrition and Wellbeing

Demystify the complex world of nutrition, health, and wellbeing and discover how to apply nutrition concepts to your own diet with this online nutrition course from the University of Aberdeen.

Duration

4 weeks

Weekly study

3 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

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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.

Examine the links between food and disease

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.

Week 1
The makings of a healthy diet
- Welcome to the course
  Welcome to our four-week journey about nutrition.
- Diet through the centuries
  Explore the way dietary habits have changed over the last million years from ‘Stone age to Obese age'
- Components of the healthy diet
  What makes a healthy and balanced diet? Find out the type and amount of food that is good for you and your health!
- Nutrients in food
  Nutrients contained in food are a source of energy, essential for growth and maintaining a healthy body. In this section we will discuss the importance of micro- and macronutrients in the diet and how they impact on your health.
- End of the week summary
  A short summary of the topics covered so far in the first week of the course.
Week 2
Why do we eat what we eat?
- Welcome to Week 2
  A brief introduction to the topics covered in Week 2. Discover what you are going to learn this week.
- Why do we eat what we eat?
  Is food addictive? Should you include sugars in your diet? Find out what our experts have to say about these important issues.
- Sustainability
  Our current dietary habits – can we have both a healthy body and environment?
- How do we make our food choices?
  What nutritional information should we look out for when purchasing food? Should we care about the food labels at all? Learn how to follow dietary guidelines and make the best of your diet.
- End of the week summary
  Short overview of topics discussed in Week 2 of the course.
Week 3
Food and disease - what is the weakest link?
- Welcome to Week 3!
  Welcome to Week 3 of the nutrition course! This week we are going to look at the association between diet and disease.
- Cardiovascular diseases and diet
  Can dietary habits directly influence cardiovascular health? We will explore the concept of cardio-protective diet and look at the role diet has in disease management.
- Food and cancer prevention
  Can healthy eating reduce the risk of cancer? We will investigate the link between diet and cancer.
- End of the week activities
  What have we learned this week? A short reflection and a summary of concepts discussed throughout the week.
Week 4
Nutrition fads, myths and the plain truth
- Welcome to Week 4
  Welcome to the 4th and final week of the nutrition course! This week we are going to focus on myths and controversies surrounding nutrition and diet.
- Nature vs nurture
  Can genes impact your ability to lose weight? Or is that just a matter of being on a ‘right’ diet? We will look into environmental vs biological factors of weight loss and dieting.
- Nutrition fads, myths and the plain truth
  Is exercising once a week enough? Can bacteria have a beneficial effect on health? We will learn answers to these questions and also explore the significance of vitamin D deficiency in populations living at the higher latitudes.
- End of the week
  What have we learned this week? A short reflection and a summary of concepts discussed throughout the week.