How to use this: open the walkthrough first and go at your own pace with the arrow keys or Next. Then open the Lab: run the simulator, practice in the trainer with its hints and worked solutions, and try the real-life scenarios. Use the tools bar at the top of each page to pause the animations, slow them down, have the text read aloud, or get a written description of each picture. For learning only, not personal medical or diet advice.
Module 1 Nutrition basics and healthy eating patterns
The six nutrient classes, energy in food, nutrient density, the DRIs, healthy eating patterns, food labels, and how nutrition science works.
- Six nutrient classes
- kcal per gram
- Nutrient density
- DRIs: EAR, RDA, AI, UL
- AMDR
- Dietary Guidelines
- Plate model
- Nutrition Facts label
- %DV
- Evaluating research
Module 2 Digestion, absorption and transport
Follow a meal through the GI tract, watch nutrients cross the gut wall, and see where they go next.
- GI tract
- Enzymes
- Stomach and HCl
- Villi and microvilli
- Bile
- Absorption mechanisms
- Blood vs lymph
- Gut microbiota
- Lactose intolerance
- Celiac disease
- Allergy vs intolerance
Module 3 Carbohydrates and fiber
Sugars, starch, glycogen and fiber, blood glucose control, glycemic response, whole grains and added sugars.
- Monosaccharides
- Disaccharides
- Starch and glycogen
- Soluble vs insoluble fiber
- Insulin and glucagon
- Glycemic index and load
- Diabetes
- Whole grains
- Added sugars
- Sweeteners
Module 4 Lipids
Triglycerides, fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, fat digestion, lipoproteins and heart health.
- Saturated vs unsaturated
- Omega-3 and omega-6
- Trans fats
- Phospholipids
- Cholesterol
- Micelles and chylomicrons
- LDL and HDL
- Atherosclerosis
- Fat recommendations
Module 5 Proteins and amino acids
Amino acids, protein structure, digestion, synthesis and turnover, protein quality, needs and plant-based eating.
- Essential amino acids
- Peptide bonds
- Protein structure
- Denaturation
- Protein synthesis
- Nitrogen balance
- Complete vs incomplete
- Complementary proteins
- Protein needs (g/kg)
- Marasmus / kwashiorkor
- Vegetarian and vegan diets
Module 6 Energy metabolism
How cells turn food into ATP, and how the body shifts fuels between fed, fasting and exercise.
- ATP
- B-vitamin coenzymes
- Glycolysis
- Citric acid cycle
- Electron transport chain
- Beta-oxidation
- Urea cycle
- Alcohol metabolism
- Fed vs fasting
- Ketone bodies
Module 7 Energy balance and body composition
Where the body's energy goes, how hunger and fullness are signaled, and how body composition is measured, with its limits.
- BMR and TEF
- Physical activity energy
- Adaptive thermogenesis
- Hunger and satiety hormones
- Body composition
- BMI and its limits
- Assessment methods
- Factors shaping body weight
- Eating disorders: recognition and support
Module 8 Water-soluble vitamins
The B vitamins as energy coenzymes, folate and B12 for healthy cells, and vitamin C.
- Thiamin
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Vitamin B6
- Folate and neural tubes
- Vitamin B12
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Choline
- Vitamin C and collagen
- Cooking losses
Module 9 Fat-soluble vitamins
Vitamins A, D, E and K: absorption with fat, storage, functions, deficiencies and toxicity.
- Vitamin A and vision
- Beta-carotene
- Vitamin D from sunlight
- Calcium regulation
- Rickets / osteomalacia
- Vitamin E antioxidant
- Vitamin K and clotting
- Warfarin and vitamin K
- Toxicity and ULs
Module 10 Water and major minerals
Water balance and hydration, electrolytes and the sodium-potassium pump, calcium and bone, and other major minerals.
- Body water
- Thirst and ADH
- Dehydration
- Hyponatremia
- Sodium and blood pressure
- Potassium
- Calcium and bone remodeling
- Osteoporosis
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
Module 11 Trace minerals
Iron from gut to hemoglobin, zinc, iodine and the thyroid, selenium, copper, fluoride and more.
- Heme vs nonheme iron
- Iron absorption and hepcidin
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Iron overload
- Zinc
- Iodine and goiter
- Selenium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Lead and mercury
Module 12 Nutrition for physical activity
Energy systems, fuel use, carbohydrate and protein for training, hydration, and supplements in sport.
- Energy systems
- Fuel crossover
- Glycogen and hitting the wall
- Carbohydrate loading
- Fueling during exercise
- Recovery nutrition
- Protein for athletes
- Sweat rate and hydration
- RED-S
- Ergogenic aids
Module 13 Nutrition across the life cycle
Pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence and older adulthood, and how needs change at each stage.
- Pregnancy nutrition
- Folate and neural tubes
- Food safety in pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Infant formula
- Introducing solids
- Toddlers and picky eating
- Adolescent growth
- Sarcopenia
- Older adult nutrition
Module 14 Clinical nutrition and food safety
The nutrition care process, diet and chronic disease, modified diets, tube feeding, drug-nutrient interactions and food safety.
- Nutrition care process
- Heart-healthy patterns
- Diabetes plate method
- Kidney disease diets
- Dysphagia / IDDSI
- Tube feeding
- Parenteral nutrition
- Refeeding syndrome
- Drug-nutrient interactions
- Food safety and danger zone