Diet and Nutrition Diploma

Module 1 - The Digestive system
This module concentrates on exploring the key details about our digestive systems, so that, before we look at the specifics of diet and nutrition, we have an understanding of how the different elements of our digestive system work, and why it is important that we know more about how our food gets from our plates into our tissues and cells, and what foods are beneficial to our body.
When looking at the subject of diet and nutrition, it is important for us to consider what nutrition actually is, and why we need food.

Module 2 - Dietary Nutrients
This module introduces the basics of good nutrition. It helps us understand how to introduce good nutrition into our daily lives and teaches us concepts such as "Energy Balance", "Body Mass Index" and "The Harris Benedict Equation".
The important dietary nutrients of carbohydrate, protein and fats and oils are explained in more detail, so that we can understand the function of these nutrients in our body.

Module 3 - Supplementary Nutrients
A lot of people believe that vitamins and minerals are health enhancers and that consuming plenty of them will lead to a long and healthy life. In fact, as we will discover in this module, vitamins and minerals do not directly provide us with energy nor does consuming a lot of them automatically guarantee optimal health.
In this module, we will find out what vitamins and minerals actually do, where they come from, and what requirements we have.

Module 4 - The Role of Fluids
In this module, we will be looking at why we need to consume water and the best way of obtaining sufficient quantities. We will also examine the role of electrolytes, and learn how to recognize and prevent dehydration.
We also explore some facts about alcohol and how our bodies metabolise it, as well as the effects of alcohol on our health.

Module 5 - Weight Loss and Dieting
This module looks at the effects of weight loss on health, and highlights the risks of rapid weight loss methods. We examine the reasons why many people find it so difficult to lose weight and then maintain this loss.
We also look at appetite control and metabolism and the effects of different diets, culminating in simple effective strategies we can use to lose weight and maintain this weight loss. We also consider simply strategies for gaining weight, without turning to flab.

Module 6 - Vegetarianism
Surveys suggest that about one in twenty people in the United Kingdom are vegetarian; many people choose to follow a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons. In this module, students are going to look at the whole topic of vegetarianism, including some of the reasons people choose a vegetarian lifestyle. We will, naturally, look at the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, or, indeed, whether vegetarian diets are always healthy, as well as the different variations of the vegetarian diet, including some ideas for meals.

Module 7 - Young People
In this module we will concentrate on the particular nutritional requirements of young people. So this module will be of particular interest to all those involved in caring for young people and young people themselves, of course.
We will explore the energy needs of young people, especially if they are very active, as well as their protein, carbohydrate and fluid needs, specifically looking at how these may differ from the needs of adults.

Module 8 - Groups with Special Dietary Needs
In this module, we concentrate on the diet and nutrition of groups with special dietary needs including, women at different stages of their lives, including during pregnancy and the menopause.
Other groups with special dietary needs include those diagnosed as having diabetes, heart disease, allergies and asthma. We will consider the signs and symptoms associated with these diseases and what we can do to prevent or delay their onset.

Module 9 - Eating Disorders
In this module, we are going to look more closely at what disordered eating actually is and the three main categories of eating disorder, that is, anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating. These three, according to most of the experts on the subject of eating disorders, rather than just being a problem with food and body image, are an outward expression of psychological conflict.
You may not be able to label a sufferer as being one or the other of these, as quite often, anorexics might later become bulimic and compulsive eaters might also become bulimic from time to time. It is, however, useful to know the distinct differences between the eating disorders and their effects, and this is something we will discover throughout this module.

Module 10 - Personal Dietary Plans
This is a very practical module, in that it asks you to design a personal dietary plan, taking into account all the personal details of the person you are designing the plan for. It may be for yourself or for someone you are advising about diet and nutrition.
Included in your plan will be suggestions and ideas for meals, and advice on keeping food and exercise diaries, so that any goals may be successfully achieved within a given time frame.