What is nutrition?
Nutrition is a science concerned with how an organism utilizes food. When applied to human consumption, nutrition seeks to find the most optimal combination and quantity of nutrients for growth, health, vitality, and long life. This involves studying the nutritional components of foods and their impact on the body.
Proper nutrition can help people live longer while lowering their risk for health issues. By taking nutrition courses, you can make a difference in the health and lives of others. Learning about nutrition can also help individuals on a personal level. People who understand the indicators of health can make effective adjustments to their diet and lifestyle.
Professionals in this field understand the dietary requirements of people of various ages, sizes, and activity levels. They also study the relationship between diet, health, and disease in order to design meal plans and nutrition programs that lead to improved health.Footnote 1
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Online nutrition course curriculum
Whether you’re interested in learning about nutrition to make improvements to your personal health or to achieve professional goals, online nutrition courses can help you better understand how food and nutrition impact health.
You may start by taking a class that introduces fundamental principles of nutrition and how to measure specific health markers. Additional beginner courses may teach how diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management contribute to an individual’s overall health. You might then explore more specific topics, which could include:
Agricultural development and food growth, security, and sustainability
Nutrition for disease prevention and treatment
The evolution of nutritional needs throughout life, and how to develop diet plans for different age groups
Health benefits related to adopting a plant-based diet
Using nutrition to positively impact patients’ mental health
For learners interested in studying this topic, as well as many other topics, edX offers a variety of educational opportunities that range from individual courses to full programs that allow you to earn a bachelor's degree or even a master’s degree. Explore the opportunities available and find the right learning path for you.
Nutritionist jobs
Many nutritionist jobs require candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or a related topic. Advanced degrees and training may also be necessary to qualify for certain roles.Footnote 2 For instance, some positions may require that individuals earn a nutritionist certification to practice. Job requirements will depend on the title and the organization’s needs.
Some examples of potential nutrition jobs include:
Nutritionists: work with the general public in a clinical or community setting. These professionals help clients design and implement dietary strategies and nutritional therapies and may create plans to address specific health issues.Footnote 3
Dietitians: are experts in how diet affects health. They can diagnose and treat certain medical conditions and create nutrition changes for a client based on their clients’ medical issues.Footnote 4
Health coaches: work with clients to help them implement healthy lifestyle changes. They may work with clients who have chronic health issues, or they may help clients achieve specific health goals.Footnote 5
Food science technicians: support food scientists with food research, development, and quality control. They may collect and prepare samples, analyze food’s chemical properties, test foods to verify that they meet established safety standards, and analyze test results.Footnote 6
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Nutrition FAQ
Why learn nutrition?
By learning nutrition, you can develop specialized knowledge that you can use to help yourself and others. Proper nutrition and health-minded eating can improve lives, help people manage chronic conditions, and prevent serious health issues. Taking a nutrition class can also help to prepare you for a career as a dietitian or a nutritional aide.
Is nutrition hard to learn?
Learning about nutrition may be more or less challenging depending on your education and desired career path. Because nutrition focuses on science, a strong understanding of medicinal chemistry, biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and physiology can make your education easier.
What is the difference between a nutritionist and dietitian?
A nutritionist is an expert on nutrition. They may offer educational programs, nutrition counseling, or meal planning assistance, to help people enhance their health. A dietitian is specially trained in food and nutrition to meet the strict dietetics guidelines. They provide services including planning meals, prescribing supplements, providing specialized IV or tube feeding, and recommending diet changes to prevent disease.Footnote 7
What does a nutritionist do?
Nutritionists provide services that help people to eat healthily. Those services may include providing meal planning or nutrition counseling and educational programs. Nutritionists often help people set and achieve nutritional goals and behaviors. Nutritionists may choose to specialize in certain areas, like sports nutrition, pediatric nutrition, gerontological nutrition, or renal nutrition. They may work in settings including inpatient and outpatient settings, health clinics, and schools.Footnote 8
What science is used in nutrition?
Nutrition courses focus on several different types of science. When studying nutrition, you may need to use medicinal chemistry, biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and physiology.Footnote 9
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