Making Sense of Supplements (Coursera)

Making Sense of Supplements (Coursera)

No matter how hard you try, there is no escaping the endless stream of advertising for all the nutritional supplements out there. From protein and creatine to caffeine and other more-controversial performance aids, there is something tailored to every health, wellness, and fitness goal. This course has been designed to help explore some of the most common trends in the nutritional supplementation landscape and to help separate research-supported hope from marketing hype.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You will learn the regulations and guidelines for supplement selections, evidence-based supplements for muscle, supplements that may or may not help with those weight management, in addition to those that have been shown to support athletic performance.
With over 30 years as a leader in fitness and wellness education, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) has built its reputation on providing an evidence-based curriculum that is both relevant and applicable for those seeking the skills and knowledge required to promote optimal health.
Course 2 of 5 in the Nutrition Education for the Consumer Specialization.

What You Will Learn

  • Navigate common supplement myths and fallacies regarding weight loss.
  • Differentiate nutrition supplements used to promote athletic performance.
  • Discover how to use evidence-based research when determining supplemental use and efficacy.
  • Learn the importance of dietary supplements and the role they play in optimal health.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
NASM's Making Sense of Supplements
No matter how hard you try, there is no escaping the endless stream of advertising for all the nutritional supplements out there. From protein and creatine to caffeine and other more-controversial performance aids, there is something tailored to every health, wellness, and fitness goal. This course has been designed to help explore some of the most common trends in the nutritional supplementation landscape and to help separate research-supported hope from marketing hype. You will learn the regulations and guidelines for supplement selections, evidence-based supplements for muscle, supplements that may or may not help with those weight management, in addition to those that have been shown to support athletic performance.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Communicating During Global Emergencies (Coursera) Coursera
Emory University

Communicating During Global Emergencies (Coursera)

In collaboration with the Rollins School of Public Health and the CDC's Division of Global Health Protection, Emergency Response, and Recovery Branch, this course introduces basic concepts and principles of communicating during a global crisis or emergency. It explores why communication during an emergency is different and the importance of adapting emergency messages to the needs of affected populations.

Aug 10th 2026
3 Weeks
Introduction to Systems Biology (Coursera) Coursera
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Introduction to Systems Biology (Coursera)

This course will introduce the student to contemporary Systems Biology focused on mammalian cells, their constituents and their functions. Biology is moving from molecular to modular. As our knowledge of our genome and gene expression deepens and we develop lists of molecules (proteins, lipids, ions) involved in cellular processes, we need to understand how these molecules interact with each other to form modules that act as discrete functional systems.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Oral Cavity: Portal to Health and Disease (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

The Oral Cavity: Portal to Health and Disease (Coursera)

This course will focus on the interprofessional realtionship of dentistry and medicine. For each session, the medical specialist will present a broad overview of specific disease entity which will be followed by a dental educator discussing the relevant oral manifestations and implications. The final module of each session will be devoted to the interaction between the dental and other health care professionals.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Ecosystems of California (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Santa Cruz

Ecosystems of California (Coursera)

This course surveys the diversity, structure and functioning of California’s ecosystems through time and the ways they have influenced and responded to human activities and stewardship. Topics include ecosystem drivers such as climate, soils, and land use history; human and ecological prehistory of the state; comparative marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystem dynamics; and managed ecosystems such as range, fisheries and agriculture in California.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Entendiendo la depresión a lo largo del ciclo vital (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad de los Andes

Entendiendo la depresión a lo largo del ciclo vital (Coursera)

En este curso vamos a tratar de eliminar cualquier estigma detrás de la depresión, educar sobre qué es un mito y qué es un hecho en cuanto a esta condición, describir cómo se puede manifestar a lo largo de la vida, sus características cuando aparece simultáneamente con una enfermedad médica y hablaremos de estrategias de tratamiento.

Aug 10th 2026
4 Weeks
Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice (Coursera)

Epidemiology is often described as the cornerstone science in public health. Epidemiology in public health practice uses study design and analyses to identify causes in an outbreak situation, guides interventions to improve population health, and evaluates programs and policies. In this course, we'll define the role of the professional epidemiologist as it relates to public health services, functions, and competencies. With that foundation in mind, we'll introduce you to the problem solving methodology and demonstrate how it can be used in a wide variety of settings to identify problems, propose solutions, and evaluate interventions.

Aug 10th 2026
4 Weeks
Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Toronto

Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19 (Coursera)

Never in the history of humanity have so many people been feeling intense anxiety related to COVID-19 and the world it will leave in its wake. The intent of this course is to give you a deeper understanding of the anxiety reaction as it relates to various aspects of our current life, ranging from our consumption of news to the way we talk to our children about this. I will also give you clear strategies for managing and, in fact, turning off the anxiety response at least for short periods.

Aug 10th 2026
4 Weeks
Curanderismo: Traditional Healing Using Plants (Coursera) Coursera
University of New Mexico

Curanderismo: Traditional Healing Using Plants (Coursera)

As one of four courses on Curanderismo, the art of Hispanic/Latino traditional medicine, this course focuses specifically on the use of plants in traditional healing. As an educational and cultural platform, this course will share the history, influences, and contributions of traditional medicine. Trained traditional healers will share their knowledge of the healing properties of plants commonly found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico through practical applications that can still be used today.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Acute and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Comprehensive Review (Coursera) Coursera
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Acute and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Comprehensive Review (Coursera)

This course is designed to inform primary care physicians and general otolaryngologists about the differences between acute and chronic rhinosinusitis and how to distinguish and treat them. It is also applicable to individuals who wish to broaden their knowledge and vernacular about this disease process, especially those who may suffer from this condition.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Tropical Parasitology: Protozoans, Worms, Vectors and Human Diseases (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University,Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College

Tropical Parasitology: Protozoans, Worms, Vectors and Human Diseases (Coursera)

This course provides students an understanding of important human parasitic diseases, including their life cycles, vectors of transmission, distribution and epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention and control. Tropical Parasitology is taught by faculty from an area highly impacted by tropical parasites- the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Moshi, Tanzania. The faculty include Drs. Frank Mosha and Mramba Nyindo (and two lecturers, Drs. Johnson Matowo and Jovin Kitau). Dr. John Bartlett, Professor of Medicine, Global Health and Nursing at Duke University, joins his faculty colleagues in this effort.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Foundational Skills for Communicating About Health (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Foundational Skills for Communicating About Health (Coursera)

Effective communication is a core skill that nearly every health professional will need and use during their careers. Yet, few health professionals receive even basic training in how to design communications to be clear and successful. As “foundational skills,” the content in this course can be applied to both oral and written communication, within and beyond health.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Essentials of Global Health (Coursera) Coursera
Yale University

Essentials of Global Health (Coursera)

Essentials of Global Health is a comprehensive introduction to global health. It is meant to introduce you to this topic in well-structured, clear and easy to understand ways. Much of the course will focus on five questions: What do people get sick, disabled and die from; Why do they suffer from these conditions? Which people are most affected? Why should we care about such concerns? What can be done to address key health issues, hopefully at least cost, as fast as possible, and in sustainable ways?

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks