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Causes of Human Disease

Nutrition and Environment

Michael Routledge and Caroline Orfila

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. Find out more The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in the science behind causes of human disease and medicine. No previous knowledge or experience is required. If you are working in nursing, healthcare or social care or just wish to learn more about it, this course is designed to support you as a professional. By completing all aspects of the course you will have achieved 14 hours of CPD time. You can use the hashtag #FLnutritionenv to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

The importance of vitamins and minerals for human health.
Protein and Energy Malnutrition (PEM): the causes, and physical and physiological symptoms.
Obesity: its presentation, causes and consequences.
Food toxins and the risk to health.
Contribution of environmental toxins and the association with human disease.
Waterborne toxins and the impact on health.
Air pollution and its contribution to cardiovascular diseases.

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Reviews summary

Foundational health: nutrition, environment & disease

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation and is highly informative and well structured. It provides clear explanations on relevant topics like the impact of nutrition and environmental toxins on health. Students find the content engaging and easy to follow, making it a good starting point, particularly for those with no prior science background or seeking general knowledge. While many appreciate its accessibility, a few reviewers with existing knowledge felt it was too simplistic and wished for more depth, suggesting it is best suited for beginners or for updating foundational knowledge.

Course is easy to navigate and follow.

"Very informative and well structured."

"The structure made it easy to manage alongside work."

"The pace was manageable."

Accessible for those new to the subject.

"Highly recommended for anyone interested in health."

"Found this course too simplistic. As someone with a medical background... It's likely good for complete beginners."

"Very relevant and well-explained for someone without a science background."

Concepts are explained simply and clearly.

"The content on nutrition was especially helpful and explained clearly."

"The lectures were engaging and easy to follow."

"The lectures were clear and engaging... without getting bogged down in excessive jargon."

Covers important modern health issues.

"Good course content, very relevant to modern health issues."

"The information on air and waterborne pollutants was particularly eye-opening."

"Very relevant and well-explained for someone without a science background."

Provides a strong base for understanding.

"A solid introduction to the topic... a valuable course for building a foundational understanding."

"Absolutely brilliant! Covered everything I needed to know to get a good grasp on the topic."

"Excellent overview... A solid foundation course."

External links could be improved.

"some of the links seemed a bit dated or pointed to complex external resources without enough context."

May lack depth for experienced learners.

"Some parts were a bit basic for me, but overall it was a valuable course for building a foundational understanding."

"Found this course too simplistic. As someone with a medical background, I didn't gain much new information."

"I was hoping for more detailed scientific explanations in certain areas... It feels a bit too general at times."

Career center

Learners who complete Causes of Human Disease: Nutrition and Environment will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Causes of Human Disease: Nutrition and Environment.

Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease,...

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This classic textbook provides a comprehensive overview of human disease, covering the full spectrum of disorders from basic science to clinical manifestations. It is an essential reference for medical students, residents, and practitioners alike.

Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease,...

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Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

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This comprehensive and rigorous textbook covering atmospheric chemistry and physics, with a strong focus on air pollution and its link to climate change. It delves into advanced topics such as atmospheric chemistry, aerosols, and atmospheric modeling. is highly valuable for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, as well as researchers. It is considered a definitive reference in the field and is widely used in academic settings.

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air...

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Krause and Mahan’s Food and the Nutrition Care...

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This foundational textbook widely used in nutrition and dietetics programs. It provides a comprehensive overview of the nutrition care process, covering assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring and evaluation. It is an essential reference for students and professionals, offering evidence-based guidelines for nutritional care across the lifespan and for various conditions.

Krause and Mahan’s Food and the Nutrition Care...

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Krause and Mahan’s Food and the Nutrition Care...

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Goldman's Cecil Medicine

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This multi-volume textbook comprehensive resource for internal medicine, covering a wide range of topics relevant to human disease. It valuable reference for clinicians and researchers alike.

Goldman's Cecil Medicine: Includes Quick Reference...

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Salt Sugar Fat

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An investigative look into the processed food industry, this book exposes how companies use salt, sugar, and fat to create addictive products. It provides crucial context for understanding the environmental factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. is highly relevant for understanding the societal and environmental influences on diet and health.

Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us

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Rock-Forming Minerals: Orthosilicates, Volume 1A

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The first volume in a comprehensive series on rock-forming minerals. This volume covers orthosilicates, which are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Highly detailed and authoritative, this book is an essential reference for mineralogists and petrologists.

Orthosilicates (Rock-Forming Minerals) (v. 1A)

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