Introduction to Nutrition

What should you eat? How much should you eat? When should you eat it? It depends! Everybody’s needs and desires are different. This class won’t tell you what to eat, but it will provide you with the knowledge to make your own healthy decisions. 

As we learn in a scientifically rigorous manner about the biology, chemistry, and physiology of nutrition, we’ll also study the macro- and micronutrients, recommendations to prevent chronic disease, eating disorders, latest fad diets, critical thinking skills to analyze your intakes and expenditure, sports performance concepts, supplements, food policy issues, deficiencies, toxicities, and much more! 

After this course, students will be able to: 

  • Construct healthy meals to optimize health and lower risk for chronic diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension 
  • Construct healthy meals to optimize mental and physical performance 
  • Explain the science behind healthy meals and nutrition 
  • Predict malnutrition with adverse health effects 
  • Discern misconceptions from facts about nutrition, and 
  • Evaluate fad diets 

 

Arts & Sciences Gen Ed: Natural Sciences
3 credit hours