Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (edX)

Nutrition is crucial to live an active and healthy life, to support training, and to optimize performance. In this course, researchers and teachers from Wageningen University & Research will familiarize you with the nutritional aspects of exercise and sports. What are the basic concepts in exercise physiology and sport nutrition science? How is exercise being fueled for the different types of sports like; power sports, sprinting and endurance exercise? And how does protein support skeletal muscle mass and performance? In this course you will learn to estimate energy needs and understand thermoregulation and fluid balance. You will learn about the role of micronutrients and supplements in exercise performance. Moreover, you will be introduced to some health issues related to doing exercise.

This course also touches upon how the lessons learned from nutrition and sports research can be applied during ageing. For example, what are the benefits of extra protein in vulnerable age groups?
Be aware that this course will not tell you exactly what to eat. Instead, you will learn and understand the nutritional aspects of exercise and sport, so you can make your own informed decisions and critically evaluate nutritional advices and claims.

For whom?
This course is especially useful for:

• Sport- and health coaches, Physiotherapists and Dietitians
• People working in the (sport) food industry
• Athletes and professional sporters
• Everyone with a healthy appetite for knowledge about nutrition, exercise and sports

Ready to join the MOOC? This course contains several interesting and inspiring interviews with nutrition and sport professionals. It will provide basic understanding of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, and contains challenging assignments that will give you insight in nutritional needs and performance benefits for (your) athletes, your clients or yourself.

What you'll learn

• The key concepts of exercise physiology and sports nutrition science
• Important nutritional aspects of exercise including energy, carbohydrates & fats, protein metabolism and fluid balance
• Why certain nutritional strategies can enhance exercise and sports performance
• The role of micronutrients and supplements in exercise and sports
• The relationship between Exercise, Nutrition and Health, also during ageing
• Develop a critical mind-set in the field of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports

Syllabus

Week 1 | Introduction to Sport Nutrition (Science)
Key topics:
An introduction into Sports, Exercise and Nutrition, including types of Sports, Sport Nutrition Pyramid. An introduction into Sport Nutrition Science - including empirical cycle, study designs, critical issues and performance measurements.

Week 2 | Skeletal Muscle, Exercise and Sports
Key topics:
An introduction into Skeletal muscle anatomy & physiology, including contraction and energy transfer. Exercise capacity: Power & Endurance. Cardiopulmonal system during Exercise

Week 3 | Energy and Fluid balance
Key topics:
Energy requirement, energy availability. Thermoregulation, Fluid balance, (de)hydration & rehydration strategies

Week 4 | Macronutrients
Key topics:
Carbohydrates & fats as energy source, nutritional strategies. Skeletal muscle protein metabolism and dietary protein intake.

Week 5 | Micronutrients and ergogenic supplements
Key topics:
Function of micronutrients and recommendations: Iron, Magnesium, calcium and Vitamins D and B. Ergogenic supplements and sports performance

Week 6 | Exercise and Nutrition during ageing
Key topics:
Skeletal muscle and ageing, Protein & Exercise in older adults, Intervention strategies

Prerequisites:
Basis knowledge about nutrition.
If you have no basic knowledge about nutrition, we would recommend you to join the MOOC Nutrition and Health: Micronutrients and Malnutrition first. The MOOC Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition could alsoserve as a valuable preparation.