Nutrition and fitness are two very important aspects of health, and there’s a lot of information about them available online. Some of the best information is found through Open CourseWare classes, offered by universities and organizations. Here, we’ll take a look at more than 50 of the resources that you can use to get an education in fitness and nutrition.

Introductory

Follow these courses to get started.

1. Introductory Nutrition: This course offers a survey covering the basic facts and principles of nutrition. [University of Texas]
2. Introduction to Human Nutrition: In this introductory course, you’ll learn about the digestion and metabolism of nutrients. [Berkeley]
3. Nutrition, Exercise, and Aging: Check out this resource to learn more about how nutrition and exercise influence the aging process. [Tufts]
4. Human Growth and Nutrition: Follow this course, and you’ll learn how nutrition, fitness, and more influence growth. [Tufts]

Diets

These courses will help you learn more about diets.

5. Critical Analysis of Popular Diets and Dietary Supplements: Take this course, and you’ll be equipped to critically appraise a weight control diet or dietary supplement. [Johns Hopkins]
6. Low-Carb Living: In this course, you’ll learn about guidelines, meal plans, and more for low carbohydrate living. [Suite101]
7. Vegetarian Diet: This course offers a full overview of eating a vegetarian diet. [Suite101]
8. Meat Eaters: This course takes a look at the biology of various meat eaters. [The Open University]

Nutrition

These courses cover various topics in nutrition.

9. Proteins: Study proteins, including their molecular makeup and how they are digested in this course. [Open University]
10. Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life: In this course, you’ll learn all about the useful properties found in fourteen superfoods. [UTMB]
11. Organic Food 101: Find out why and how you should eat organic food from this course. [Suite101]
12. Methods of Assessing Nutrition and Body Composition: Using this course, you’ll be able to learn how to assess nutrition and body composition. [UTMB]
13. Vitamins and Minerals: Get an understanding of vitamins and minerals through this course. [Open University]
14. Mind Mapping for Nutrition: Learn about life stages, nutrition assessments, and more in this resource. [Tufts]
15. Principles of Human Nutrition: Take this course, and you’ll get an overview of the requirements and functions of nutrition in humans. [Johns Hopkins]
16. Biology of Water and Health: Learn about water, health, nutrition and cognition through this course. [Tufts]

Fitness

Learn about activities and more in these fitness courses.

17. Weight Training: In this course, you’ll get instruction for proper weight lifting techniques. [MIT]
18. Backpacking: This course discusses important tips, gear, and more for backpacking. [Suite101]
19. Improving Aerobic Fitness: This course will help you learn how to better develop your aerobic fitness. [Open University]
20. Whole Body Vibration: A New Exercise Approach: Learn from Martha Hinman how whole body vibration can be used as exercise. [UTMB]
21. Sporting Activities in the Environment: Learn how to use the environment as a setting for physical activity through this course. [University of Alicante]
22. Walking: The tutorial Walking is all about the benefits of walking, creating a walking program, and more. [Suite101]
23. Archery: Get the basics of indoor target archery through this course. [MIT]
24. Chemistry of Sports: Check out this course, and you’ll learn about the chemistry of biological systems in the sports of swimming, cycling, and running. [MIT]
25. SCUBA: Study this course to learn all of the knowledge and skills necessary to become a certified beginning SCUBA diver. [MIT]
26. PE for ME: Learn more about physical intelligence from PE for ME. [MIT]
27. Physical Intelligence: Physical Intelligence will teach you all about the cognitive thought and work that goes into physical activity. [MIT]
28. Funding Elite Sport: This course discusses the organization and funding issues behind elite sports. [The Open University]
29. Fencing: This course offers the fundamentals of fencing, with bladework, footwork, and more. [MIT]
30. Tennis: This course offers an instructional knowledge of playing tennis. [MIT]
31. Yoga and the Heart: Using this resource, you can see how yoga affects the heart. [UTMB]
32. The Impact of Physical Activity and Obesity on Academic Achievement Among Elementary Students: Follow this study to see how physical factors can influence academics. [Connexions]
33. Sailing: Learn a series of sailing skills with the help of this course. [MIT]
34. Horseback Riding 101: Horseback Riding 101 is all about learning how to ride horses. [Suite101]
35. Active, Healthy Lifestyles: Check out this course to learn about some of the common misconceptions surrounding fitness and activity.

Medicine

See how fitness and nutrition play a part in medicine through these courses.

36. Nutrition and Medicine: This course discusses the theoretical and clinical aspects of nutrition. [Tufts]
37. Christ Mind-Buddha Body: Alternative Self Healing: Check out this online tutorial to learn about 10 different priorities for kinesiology. [Dr. Phillip Petersen]
38. Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology: Take this course to learn about the pathophysiology of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. [Tufts]
39. Gastroenterology: This course will teach you about the gastrointestinal tract and associated systems. [MIT]
40. Pathophysiology of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism: Take this course to learn more about the endocrine system. [Tufts]

Culture & Politics

In these courses, you’ll see how culture and politics influence nutrition and fitness.

41. Food for Thought: Writing and Reading about Food and Culture: This writing course is all about the discussion of food and culture. [MIT]
42. Food and Nutrition Policy: In this course, you’ll learn about the policy making processes that address nutrition problems and issues. [Johns Hopkins]
43. Food and Power in the Twentieth Century: Find out how food has transformed over the last 100 years in this course. [MIT]
44. International Nutrition: International Nutrition discusses major nutritional problems that affect the health and survival of developing societies around the world. [Johns Hopkins]
45. Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health: Check out this course to see how social and behavioral aspects can influence nutrition, fitness, and health. [Johns Hopkins]
46. Contemporary Biosocial Problems in America: Check out this course to get a look at how nutrition, fitness, and more are problems for some Americans. [Tufts]
47. Food Production, Public Health, and the Environment: Get an understanding of the way food production, security, and the environment affects public health.
48. Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology: Study this course to learn about a variety of disorders that can influence fitness. [Tufts]

Food Safety

These courses examine the impact of food safety.

49. Biological Agents of Water and Foodborne Bioterrorism: In this presentation, you’ll learn about the various biological agents that terrorists could use against food or water supplies. [Johns Hopkins]
50. Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering: Get an overview of engineering approaches to protecting water quality in this course. [MIT]
51. Food Safety, Storage and Allergies: In this course, you’ll get a look at the safety of foods in storage, additives, and new trends in food technology. [Utah State]
52. Potable Water Treatment: See how water is conditioned through this learning resource. [The Open University]

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