Nutrition Course

Lesson 1 • Lipids: Types and Functions

Distinguishes saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats and their health implications. Connects lipid intake to hormone synthesis, cell membranes, and fat-soluble vitamins.

Lesson 2 • Proteins: Amino Acids and Roles

Explains protein structure, essential amino acids, and protein quality scoring. Links dietary protein to tissue repair, enzymes, and immune function.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to Nutrients and Food

Defines macronutrients and micronutrients and their basic roles in sustaining life. Provides the conceptual framework for all subsequent nutrition study.

Lesson 4 • Carbohydrates: Structure and Function

Covers simple and complex carbohydrates, fibre, and glycaemic response. Connects carbohydrate chemistry to energy availability and blood sugar regulation.

Lesson 1 • Gut Microbiome and Digestive Health

Introduces the gut microbiota, its composition, and its influence on digestion and immunity. Establishes the microbiome as a key variable in nutritional outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Energy Metabolism Pathways

Covers glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production. Links metabolic pathways to energy yield from each macronutrient.

Lesson 3 • Mechanical and Chemical Digestion

Distinguishes physical breakdown from enzymatic hydrolysis of macronutrients. Explains how each macronutrient is reduced to absorbable units.

Lesson 4 • Anatomy of the Digestive System

Maps the gastrointestinal tract organs and their specific digestive roles. Provides anatomical context needed to understand nutrient absorption mechanisms.

Lesson 1 • Estimating Individual Energy Needs

Applies predictive equations and activity multipliers to calculate personalised kilojoule targets. Prepares students to set evidence-based energy goals for clients.

Lesson 2 • Components of Energy Expenditure

Breaks down basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, and activity energy expenditure. Establishes the variables that determine total daily energy needs.

Lesson 3 • Hormonal Regulation of Energy Balance

Examines leptin, ghrelin, insulin, and cortisol roles in hunger and fat storage. Connects hormonal signals to practical strategies for appetite management.

Lesson 4 • Weight Management Principles

Translates energy balance theory into sustainable strategies for weight loss, gain, or maintenance. Addresses common misconceptions about metabolism and dieting.

Lesson 1 • Nutrient Adequacy and Deficiency Identification

Applies reference values to identify nutrient gaps and risk of deficiency in dietary data. Bridges assessment skills to intervention planning covered in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Reading and Interpreting Food Labels

Decodes nutrition facts panels, ingredient lists, and nutrient content claims. Equips students to guide clients in making informed food purchasing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Dietary Assessment Methods

Compares 24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires, and food diaries for intake analysis. Prepares students to select appropriate tools for dietary evaluation.

Lesson 4 • Dietary Guidelines and Food Guides

Reviews evidence-based dietary guidelines and visual food guide models used globally. Connects policy-level recommendations to individual meal planning.

Lesson 1 • Older Adult Nutrition

Addresses sarcopenia, reduced appetite, vitamin D, and B12 absorption challenges in aging. Prepares students to design nutrient-dense diets for older populations.

Lesson 2 • Adult and Midlife Nutrition

Focuses on maintaining lean mass, managing chronic disease risk, and meeting shifting micronutrient needs. Applies energy balance principles from Chapter 3 to adult health goals.

Lesson 3 • Prenatal and Maternal Nutrition

Covers critical nutrient needs during pregnancy including folate, iron, and omega-3s. Establishes how maternal diet influences fetal development and birth outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Infant and Toddler Nutrition

Examines breastfeeding, formula feeding, and introduction of solid foods in early life. Links early dietary patterns to long-term health and taste preference development.

Lesson 1 • Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease

Links dietary fat quality, sodium, fiber, and plant foods to cardiovascular risk reduction. Applies lipid and energy concepts from earlier chapters to clinical diet planning.

Lesson 2 • Diabetes and Blood Sugar Management

Covers carbohydrate counting, glycemic load, and meal timing for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Connects insulin physiology from Chapter 3 to practical dietary management.

Lesson 3 • Cancer, Kidney, and Liver Nutrition

Covers nutritional support during cancer treatment and dietary restrictions for renal and hepatic disease. Addresses protein, fluid, and electrolyte management in complex cases.

Lesson 4 • Gastrointestinal Conditions and Diet

Addresses dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Builds on gut microbiome knowledge from Chapter 2.

Lesson 1 • Carbohydrate Strategies for Athletes

Covers carbohydrate loading, intra-exercise fueling, and glycogen replenishment protocols. Applies glycemic index knowledge from Chapter 1 to performance contexts.

Lesson 2 • Energy Systems and Exercise Physiology

Reviews ATP-PCr, glycolytic, and oxidative energy systems and their fuel substrates. Connects exercise intensity and duration to macronutrient utilization patterns.

Lesson 3 • Protein for Muscle Repair and Growth

Establishes protein dose, timing, and source recommendations for muscle protein synthesis. Builds on amino acid and protein quality concepts from Chapter 1.

Lesson 4 • Ergogenic Aids and Supplements

Evaluates evidence for common performance supplements including creatine, caffeine, and beta-alanine. Teaches critical appraisal of supplement claims using research standards.

Lesson 1 • Motivational Interviewing Techniques

Teaches open-ended questioning, reflective listening, and eliciting change talk for nutrition counseling. Develops client-centered communication skills essential for dietary adherence.

Lesson 2 • Monitoring Progress and Sustaining Change

Establishes methods for tracking dietary adherence, reassessing goals, and preventing relapse. Prepares students to support clients through plateaus and setbacks.

Lesson 3 • Behavior Change Theories in Nutrition

Introduces transtheoretical model, social cognitive theory, and health belief model applied to diet. Provides the theoretical foundation for all counseling techniques in this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Nutrition Assessment and Goal Setting

Integrates dietary, anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical data into a comprehensive nutrition assessment. Connects assessment findings to SMART goal formulation for clients.