Causes of Human Disease: Nutrition and Environment (FutureLearn)

You will focus on malnutrition and obesity and how these contribute to the development of diseases, such as diabetes. You’ll learn how food can lead to ill health by carrying pathogens that cause food poisoning. Using research from the University of Leeds, you’ll explore how toxins are linked with diseases such as cancer. You’ll then investigate environmental factors, including air pollution, and its contribution to human diseases.

Syllabus

Week 1: Food and nutrition

Week 2: Environmental exposures

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

- Explore how poor nutrition and diet contributes to malnutrition and disease.

- Report on the nutritional and protective qualities of specific diets.

- Investigate toxins present in food and how they contribute to human disease.

- Describe how waterborne chemical toxins can have an adverse effect on health.

- Reflect on how air pollution can contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Who is the course for?

The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in the science behind causes of human disease and medicine. No previous knowledge or experience is required. If you are working in nursing, healthcare or social care or just wish to learn more about it, this course is designed to support you as a professional. By completing all aspects of the course you will have achieved 14 hours of CPD time.