Plant Based Nutrition
Via online storeA global shift to a predominantly plant-based diet is deemed necessary to preserve both human and planetary health. But what is a healthy plant-based diet? How can it be achieved? What are the benefits?
Course overview
Diet choices are now the top cause of death and disability globally. Not only is our diet causing ill health, it is a major factor contributing to climate destruction. A global shift to a predominantly plant-based diet is deemed necessary to preserve both human and planetary health. But what is a healthy plant-based diet? How can it be achieved? What are the benefits? All these questions will be answered in this short course, designed for those interested in improving their knowledge and expertise in the field of plant-based nutrition.
The course is designed for health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, dietitians, nutritionists, physiotherapists) who would like to incorporate evidence-based nutrition into routine clinical practice. The course is a facilitated self-paced short course to be completed within 8 weeks. There are 6 modules, each requiring at least 6 hours of personal study to complete.
What you need to know
Course start date
Various - see entry requirements
Location
Distance Learning
Course length
8 weeks
Apply
Via online store
Typical offer
Health Professionals
Fees
£350
Course features
- The course discusses the main dietary determinants of disease, disability and death, focusing on data from the United Kingdom and comparing with international data sets.
- It will review the role of nutrition in promoting optimal health and wellbeing.
- The content has been created by 17 plant-based health professionals and experts from the UK.
- This course has been accredited for 30 CPD hours by the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) and can be counted towards Maintenance of Certification for the diploma in lifestyle medicine by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. This course has also been certified by the CPD Certification Service
Course details
Learning and Teaching
This is a fully online, 8-week, distance learning course, facilitated and taught by Dr Shireen Kassam. It will require approximately 6 hours of study per week, but this will vary based on your prior knowledge of the subject. The course consists of a combination of written material, pre-recorded lectures, quizzes to test learning and a weekly compulsory written discussion on a controversial topic. The course can be worked through in your own time and will be available for 8-weeks. There are 2 optional Q&A sessions on this course held via Teams.
This distance-learning course is delivered via Canvas. Due to government regulations, Instructure (Canvas) prohibits the unauthorised use of its products and services in specific countries and regions. We need to make these restrictions clear to individuals considering this course. Please see the guidance as documented by Canvas.
This course requires access to the following:
Operating System
Windows XP SP3 and newer
Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
Linux - chrome OS
Memory
1GB of RAM
2GHz processor
Bandwidth Environment
Minimum of 512kbps (basic DSL)
Required browser specs
JavaScript must be enabled in your browser.
Chrome 119 | 120
Firefox 120 / 121
Edge 118 | 119
Safari 16 | 17 (Macintosh only)
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
- Dietary determinants of disease and disability and the burden of malnutrition
- Types of nutrition studies - strengths and weaknesses
- Healthy dietary patterns and dietary assessment tools
- Metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates
- Components of a whole food plant-based diet
- How to ensure a whole food plant-based diet is nutritionally complete
- Plant-based diets for pregnancy and children
- General overview of the benefits of a plant-based diet for health
- Plant-based diets for the prevention and treatment of diabetes
- The role of plant-based diets in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease
- Plant-based diets in chronic renal failure
- The role of plant-based diets in preventing and treating obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- The role of plant-based diets for cancer prevention, recurrence and survival
- The role of plant-based diets for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases
- The impact of diet on mental health and well-being and impact of plant-based diets
- How to facilitate behaviour change through coaching
- The role of diet and exercise in maintaining musculoskeletal health and preventing osteoporosis
- The impact of diet and nutrition on Women's health, including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, menstrual disorders and menopause
- The role of diet and lifestyle in preventing dementia and frailty
- A review of UK and international dietary guidelines - strengths and weaknesses
- Popular diet patterns, including 'Paleo' and 'low-carb'
- Plant-based diets for athletes
- The impact of diet on environmental health and sustainable farming for a plant-based world
Entry requirements
Run by the Faculty of Health & Wellbeing at the University of Winchester, this is the only University-based course of its kind in the UK. It is aimed at and designed for health professionals. Those who are not health professionals can enrol but they should be aware that the course assumes knowledge of medical terminology and a basic understanding of common chronic diseases. A good command of the English Language is required, both written and oral. If you are not a health professional, a background in science at University/degree level is desirable if not essential to get the most out of the course.
Course Enquiries and Applications
The course will repeat every academic term.
The 2024/2025 academic year start dates are:
14 January 2025
18 March 2025
20 May 2025
For general enquiries please contact the department administrator plant-basednutrition@winchester.ac.uk. For academic/course content enquires please contact Shireen Kassam Shireen.Kassam@winchester.ac.uk.
No International Entry Requirements for this course.
This course is available for health care professionals.
Additional costs
The normal course fee is £350.
You will receive joining instructions via email within 10 days of the start date.
For information about staff and student discounts please contact the department administrator plant-basednutrition@winchester.ac.uk.