Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma

Course Content

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 1 – The Inflammation Syndrome

Most people consider inflammation to cause tenderness and muscle ache e.g. back ache and stiff joints, but inflammation causes and is related to a whole host of ill health such as allergy, heart problems, bronchitis, Arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease. This first unit concentrates on exploring what is meant by “The Inflammation Syndrome,” in relation to diet and nutrition, health, and well-being. The causes of inflammation within our bodies and what triggers it are investigated. The value of anti-inflammatory drugs in combating inflammation, or whether there is need to look more closely at what we eat and drink and the supplements we take, in order to prevent disease and illness in the long-term, is discussed. How food, diet, and nutrition can be used to combat the various ailments arising from the inflammation syndrome is considered.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 2 – Profiles of Differing Foods and Drinks

The key to healthy living in the long term is the management and balance of the amount, type, and quality of food and drink we consume. Excuses are made such as metabolic rate to blame unhealthy eating, but teaching people to be honest about recording what they eat is also important. The foods we eat are divided into 6 groups, namely, vegetables, fruit, grains and cereals, dairy products, meat and fish, and with the addition of certain “superfoods” for example blueberries, probiotic yoghurt, broccoli, and turkey. Certain foods are also thought to have healing properties and the key nutrients they contain are investigated. What we eat has to be balanced with what we drink. Finally, facts about alcohol, how bodies metabolize it, and the effects of alcohol on health are explored. How to collect information, such as recipes, especially for special diets, is advised so that a therapist has a range of useful sources to hand.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 3 – Health and Nutrition During Differing Life Stages

Healthy living, diet, and exercise are important throughout all the stages of our life, and nutritional needs throughout the differing stages of life can be identified. So as people get older, for example, their lives become more sedentary and less food is needed. On the other hand, babies and children have special nutritional needs and a special diet to help them develop and grow, e.g., children need full-fat dairy products, rather than low-fat versions, and teenagers need high-energy foods. This pattern of growth slows down in adulthood, but, as people grow older, problems can arise if the diet is not healthy or they lack activity. What constitutes a balanced diet for different people, how food is used by our body, and how diet plans can be healthy and fun is discussed.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 4 – Food Safety

In the UK, it is possible to obtain any food at any time of the year, made into several recipes and available in different forms, e.g., we can get papaya and pineapple dried, fresh, in tins, or as part of dessert. The way food is available fresh or processed, and how it is prepared has to be healthy and safe for consumption. This unit discusses different food preparation processes and raises questions about food safety, including the careful handling, cooking, and storage of foods. The substances and chemicals added to foods to help preserve, flavour, and make it palatable or appear or taste a certain way are explored. What is meant by genetically modified foods is explored. The ways of avoiding food poisoning, how to stay safe when storing and cooking food, and the key things needed to be known about food when travelling are discussed.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 5 – The Organic Question

At one time all food was organic, but this changed when pesticides were added to prevent attack by insects or fertilizers were added to increase yield of the crops. People choose to buy and consume organic products because they want a safer and healthier alternative to foods that may contain toxic pesticides and chemicals. Organic food is now easier to find, not only in health food stores and supermarkets but also in restaurants and some schools and colleges. This unit looks at what organic food is and how it is produced, as well as why it is healthier than conventional choices. It also considers the disadvantages of conventional foods, such as the cost, not only to our health and well-being but also to the environment. Detoxification and its health benefits are considered in detail. As food today is so cheap and readily available, the ease of gaining weight and the need to exercise is discussed briefly.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 6 – Treating Ailments and Illnesses Through Nutrition – Part 1

The following three units provide advice on how to treat ailments and illnesses, with particular reference to a key body organ through good nutrition and the use of particular foods and liquids, alongside conventional medicine. The first discussion focuses on skin disorders, digestive and respiratory illnesses, urinary diseases, and ailments of the ears, nose, throat, mouth, and eyes. An in-depth study of the body part or organ helps form an understanding of the possible causes of disorders and illnesses that affect it. How good quality foods and diet affect, prevent, or deter common ailments and limit e.g., stress is investigated. Food, through overeating or consumption of bad or unsafe food can be problematic, e.g., chocolate can cause acne and spots.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 7 – Treating Ailments and Illnesses Through Nutrition – Part 2

This unit concentrates on the organs and body parts affected by heart and circulatory disorders e.g., high blood pressure and cholesterol, disorders of the immune and nervous systems, brain disorders, and cancer. The common illnesses and diseases discussed also include strokes, diabetes, anxiety and stress, and minor issues such as varicose veins.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 8 – Treating Ailments Specific to Women

Women are affected by disorders or issues specific to their gender including, premenstrual tension and the menopause. Diet and nutrition can help alleviate many of the symptoms of these disorders, as well as more serious illnesses, for example, breast and ovarian cancer. Pregnancy is also considered in relation to healthy living and good nutrition. There is evidence to suggest that many foods may slow down the ageing process and these will be identified. Regular consumption of foods to improve the strength of our skin and slow down the age-related damage, which affects our eyes, e.g., nuts like almonds and foods containing antioxidants, is explored. The misuse of food or eating disorders, e.g., anorexia nervosa and bulimia, as well as the importance of vitamins and mineral salts and the need for a balanced diet containing superfoods, is discussed.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 9 – Treating Ailments Specific to Men

In this unit, issues which mainly concern men, that is, hair and muscle loss, impotence, and prostate and testicular cancer are discussed. Appearance, weight, anxiety, and stress also feature. Weight is linked to lifestyle. Stress can make a person fat. With a man’s metabolic rate being at its highest when he is 27 years old, with it dropping by 12% each year until he reaches the age of 47, it follows that if he continues to consume the same amount of calories, he will put on weight. We look at how a man can increase and maintain muscle mass and, consequently, help to lessen this fall in his metabolic rate. The role of food and exercise in men’s well-being is essential, a balanced diet rich in protein, vegetables, superfoods, and limiting alcohol and cigarettes, for example, is clearly important.

Level 3 Nutritional Therapy Diploma Unit 10 – Setting Up in Business as a Nutritional Therapist

The internet has opened the door for ease of support and free resources e.g., templates of essential paperwork such as a business plan or invoices, and support groups for people wanting to or running their own business. In this final unit, all the issues and bureaucracy concerned with setting up in business as a nutritional therapist, e.g., marketing finances, legal issues, building, and maintaining a successful nutritional therapy business, are addressed. The advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed or working for others are compared and discussed.