FutureLearn
Food as Medicine Course - Monash University

Online Australia

DEGREE TYPE

Course

DURATION

3 weeks

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Part time

STUDY FORMAT

Distance Learning

Key Summary

About : The Food as Medicine Course at Monash University explores the relationship between diet and health. This course blends evidence-based research with practical applications in nutrition. Students can expect to engage in interactive discussions and develop skills in nutrition counseling and dietary intervention.

Career Outcomes : Graduates may find career opportunities in fields such as nutritional therapy, health promotion, or community health. The skills gained can be applied to roles in wellness programs, healthcare settings, or dietary consulting, helping to promote health and well-being through effective food choices.

Discover the role of food in health, apply nutrition science and explore how food can be used as medicine for you and your family.

How can we use food as medicine?

Are you interested in learning how food can be used as medicine? If you want to understand the power of nutrition, this 3-week course will teach you about the role of food in improving health.

You will explore how food can be important both in preventative health and as an aid in the management of certain chronic diseases today, in the past and in the future.

Why macronutrients and antioxidants are special

To begin, you’ll learn about what food contains and what makes it special. From macronutrients and micronutrients to antioxidants, you’ll discover how each element contributes to your overall health and wellbeing.

We’ll explore how food was used as medicine in the past and the role food plays in disease prevention and treatment. You’ll also learn how we can make food a part of medicine in the future.

The importance of nutrition for your brain and gut

In your second week, you’ll investigate the different relationships between food and the gut, brain, appetite and genes. You’ll also gain an understanding of how food affects fertility and pregnancy.

You’ll study examples of food as medicine, including the FODMAP diet for IBS and probiotics for gut health. Find out how your body controls your appetite and learn more about the eating pattern known as ‘food addiction’.

Mindful eating and the future of food

Finally, we’ll discuss the complexities of nutrition science, how it’s evolving, and how nutrition misinformation may end up as fact. Then you’ll learn to apply mindfulness to the way you engage with your food.

The future of food is exciting, so we’ll explore how food may be used as medicine in the future, and the potential role food will play in your health and wellbeing.

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts.

Available now

AfN Certified Course

This course has been certified by the Association for Nutrition. It meets AfN standards for nutrition training of individuals working at Level 1 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).

What does AfN Certification say about this course - please visit the Association for Nutrition website.

Please note completion of this course does not lead to registration on the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists nor does it equip any individual to practice ethically as a nutritionist.

BDA Endorsed Course

BDA endorsement applies only to the educational content of the learning activity. Completion of this course does not provide you with qualifications to practise as a nutritionist or dietitian.

Who will you learn with?

Gary Williamson

Gary is Professor and Head of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University. He is interested in dietary phytochemicals and health.

Melissa Adamski

Melissa is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist involved in research and teaching at Monash, along with working in private practice. She specialises in nutritional genomics.

Who developed the course?

Monash University

Monash University is one of Australia’s leading universities, ranked in the world’s top 1% by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It was established in Melbourne in 1958.

Learn on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate