Course overview
This course investigates how dietary components, macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), influence health and disease at the whole organism, organ, cellular and molecular level. It will introduce students to fundamental principles in cellular metabolism and nutritional physiology related to dietary components. Students will investigate how basic physiological, cellular and molecular processes are influenced and regulated by dietary components and how diet can affect overall human health and disease. Students will be able to critically assess nutritional status and both develop and critique basic nutritional interventions designed to improve human health and wellbeing. There will be opportunity for each student confidentially to critically analyze their own dietary intake within the framework of the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The concepts covered in lectures will be reinforced with practical workshops and tutorials.
Course learning outcomes
- Display knowledge and understanding of food composition and energy balance in dietary planning across the lifespan.
- Display knowledge and understanding of digestion and metabolism of nutrients in health and nutrition-related disorders.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of dietary and nutritional requirements in healthy individuals and nutrition-related disorders.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of diet plan formulation for health and for nutrition-related disorders.
- Retrieve, critically evaluate and apply scientifically proven evidence in assessment of existing diet plans.
- Demonstrate the ability to compile a food record and use a nutrient analysis program to analyse its nutritional merits.
- Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively in Workshops and tutorials
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of cultural and ethnic factors on food and nutrition