Skip to main content

Wageningen University & Research: Nutrition and Health: Human Microbiome

4.3 stars
12 ratings

Learn how you can impact your health by balancing your gut health; how your microbiome together with your diet can improve normal gut function. A balanced microbiome and nutritional intake can avoid disorders like IBS, obesity and diabetes.

Nutrition and Health: Human Microbiome
6 weeks
3–5 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available
Nutrition and Health: Human Microbiome

About this course

Skip About this course

Your body is not only made up of human cells, but also by trillions of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Together they make up the human microbiome and have a tremendous impact on your health. For example, what you eat and drink impacts the gut microbes of the human gut microbiome.

In the MOOC Nutrition and Health: Human Microbiome, you will learn how the human microbiome plays an important role in maintaining normal gut function, digesting certain nutrients, early life development, behavior and disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity and diabetes. You will learn how to distinguish fact from fiction about the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease.

Today, important research topics focused on nutrition, health and ageing lay within the study of microbiota composition, function and applicability. This course will help health care professionals gain a basic academic understanding of the human microbiome and the impact on human health. You'll discover the latest academic insights about food fibers, added bacteria, probiotics and microbiology. This knowledge can be applied by health care professionals in their daily practice because gut health is a hot topic, not only among researchers, but especially for health care professionals and consumers alike. Many patients with allergic issues struggle with gut health. Emerging research is connecting an imbalance of the microbiota in the gut microbiome to multiple disease states, including allergies. When finishing this course, you will know about the latest acdemic insights and how to apply them in your daily work.

Awards

Best of All Time

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cell Biology, Balancing (Ledger/Billing), Microbiology, Allergology, Diabetes Mellitus, Viruses, Written Composition

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn

In this course you'll learn that the human microbiome plays an important role in maintaining normal gut function, digesting certain nutrients, early life development, behavior and, disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity and diabetes. Discover the complexity in maintaining a balanced healthy life and learn:

  • How to study the microbiome
  • How microbiota impact your health
  • Healthy ageing and microbiota
  • The relation between diet, genes and microbiota
  • Microbial therapies and diagnostics
  • How academic knowledge about the microbiome is important forpolicy makers, medical doctors, non-profit organizations and industry

Syllabus

Skip Syllabus

Module 1: The human microbiome
This module includes topics like: how to study the microbiome, microbiota for health and the human microbiome

Module 2: Early life microbiota development
This module includes topics like: development of the microbiome, microbiome and health, life changing events, personal microbiota development

Module 3: Microbiota and Ageing
This module includes topics like: healthy ageing, including centenarians, diet and longevity; and ageing related diseases such as immunescene

Module 4: Microbiota diet and disease
Topics in this module include: nutrition, diet and genes and obesity

Module 5: Microbial therapies and diagnostics
This module includes topics like: microbial therapies, personalized therapies and diagnostics.

Module 6: Applicability and societal impact
This module includes topics like: applicability of the microbiome in medical therapy, pharmacy, nutritional companies, probiotic production and the food chain. We also go in to some examples of host microbiota interactions

Learner testimonials

Skip Learner testimonials

''This is an awesome MOOC! I've learned a lot about the human microbiome, including information on how to be healthier by making my microbiota happy.''

''Very well explained for people that are starting in this interesting field. The example that were showed here helped me think of new project ideas for the future.''

''Excellent course! Updated information and very well explained (nice illustrations and very good examples). Very useful exercises in modules help test yourself the knowledge and skills acquired during each module.''

Frequently Asked Questions

Skip Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and/or related online programmes of Wageningen University & Research? To help you find answers to your questions, we created a list with frequently asked questions about enrolling, participating in- and finishing a MOOC.

Ways to take this course

Choose your path when you enroll.

Verified Track

Audit Track

Price

$169 USD

Free

Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

Expires on Nov 6

World class institutions and universities

edX support

Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

Read our FAQsin a new tab about frequently asked questions on these tracks.

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.
Purchase nowRequest information