In this module, you’ll explore the foundations of nutrition and why food plays such a powerful role in health and well-being. You’ll learn how food choices are influenced not only by nutrients, but also by taste, culture, income, religion, and environment. By understanding the many factors that shape how and why people eat, you’ll gain a broader, more realistic view of nutrition in everyday life.

In this module, you’ll learn how the body is organized—from cells to tissues, organs, and body systems—and how these levels work together to support health. You’ll explore how digestion transforms food into nutrients that cells can use, trace the journey of food through the digestive tract, and examine the role of the gut microbiome and supporting organs. This module builds a foundation for understanding how nutrition affects the body at every level.

In this module, you’ll explore how the body transforms food into energy through metabolism and how energy balance shapes health over time. You’ll learn how calories are used, how ATP powers every cell, and how different energy systems and fuel sources support daily activity and movement. This module explains why energy levels, body weight, and performance are influenced by long-term patterns—not single meals or short-term changes.

In this module, you’ll examine popular diets and eating trends through a critical, evidence-based lens. You’ll learn how to distinguish fad diets from sustainable eating patterns, explore the potential benefits and limitations of approaches such as plant-based, ketogenic, intermittent fasting, and gluten-free diets, and understand why balance and consistency matter more than quick results. This module also highlights evidence-based patterns like the DASH and Mediterranean diets, helping you evaluate dietary choices based on health, lifestyle, and long-term success.

In this module, you’ll learn a practical, flexible framework for improving nutrition over time through observation, modification, and optimization. You’ll explore how to identify current eating patterns without judgment, introduce small, realistic changes, and evaluate whether those changes are actually working in daily life. This module emphasizes using feedback—such as energy, digestion, performance, and satisfaction—to refine habits rather than follow rigid rules. By the end, you’ll have a repeatable process for adapting nutrition as your goals, lifestyle, and needs evolve.

The Science of Eating Well - Final Exam