Nutrition and Wellbeing
Demystify the complex world of nutrition, health, and wellbeing and discover how to apply nutrition concepts to your own diet.
171,613 enrolled on this course
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
Nutrition and Wellbeing
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.
Syllabus
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.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe components of a healthy diet
- Identify principles of healthy eating
- Apply principles learned to assess their own dietary intake
- Develop an understanding of good examples of evidence based research
- Calculate their own Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Explore the influences on food choice and eating behaviors
- Identify current nutrition controversies
- Discuss their own views on food and eating
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in better understanding nutrition and how to make effective changes to their own diet.
What do people say about this course?
"This course punches above its weight! I've enjoyed it so much. Many thanks and compliments to our wonderful tutors at the University of Aberdeen for an excellent course. You managed to cover a lot of topics of interest regarding nutrition, diet and exercise in a dynamic and vibrant way. I appreciate the research-based information and advice. The resources supplied are generous and comprehensive. "
Who will you learn with?
Dr Alexandra Mavroeidi is an expert in exercise, nutrition and bone health.
Dr Alexandra Johnstone leads research on appetite across the lifecourse, with recent emphasis on high protein diets.
Who developed the course?
University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen is the 3rd oldest Scottish and 5th oldest UK University. With 14500 students from 120 countries, it is a world leader in medical research, energy, environment, law and business.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $134/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 7 Nov 2024 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Tests to check your learning | tick | tick | cross |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$134/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 7 Nov 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.
Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...
You can use the hashtag #FLNutrition to talk about this course on social media.
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
Browse more in Healthcare & Medicine and Psychology & Mental Health
