Introduction to Nutrition - Food for Health (edX)

Introduction to Nutrition - Food for Health (edX)
“You are what you eat”- learn the fundamentals of nutrition and how it can affect human health.

In our modern society we are accustomed to eat anytime, anywhere, and often too much. We stuff our bodies with food, often unaware of the fact that food profoundly influences our emotional and physical well-being in the short term and in the long term. Scientific studies indicate that what we eat has a profound impact on our current and future health. Many people want to eat a healthier diet but are torn between the numerous conflicting and very confusing messages thrown at us by healthcare professionals, self-professed nutrition consultants, journalists, and even academic scientists. Every day you hear about a new fad diet with an “unprecedented” success rate that promises a long and healthy life or simply causes your fat to melt away. Most people lack a basic understanding of nutritional science to judge whether these messages carry any credibility. Under the mantra “you are what you eat” this course will teach you the basics of human nutrition and provide you with a solid background to understand and appreciate the importance of nutrition for human health.

This introductory academic course in nutrition provides you with a broad view of the field of nutritional science. Wageningen University has one of the largest academic units in nutritional science worldwide and a long and strong history of excellence in nutrition research. In this course Professor Sander Kersten will teach you what is in our foods, what happens to these components once you consume them, and how these components may impact your health. The course will help you become more critical and provide you with the necessary tools to better weigh and interpret the information overload about nutrition and health.