Diet and Disease Prevention
An evidence-based survey of nutrition across the human lifespan and the dietary factors that shape the risk of chronic disease, from cardiovascular illness and diabetes to cancer, bone health, and mental well-being.
60-Second Review
Express reviewA condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.
- Nutrition Across the Human Lifespan. Nutrient needs shift dramatically from infancy through pregnancy, childhood, and old age.
- Diet and Cardiometabolic Disease. Diet shapes cardiovascular risk through cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar regulation.
- Obesity and Weight Management. Obesity has multiple causes and the evidence favors sustainable, multidisciplinary weight management.
- Diet, Cancer, Bones, and the Mind. Diet influences cancer risk, bone density, and, with less certain evidence, cognitive and mental health.
- Food Sensitivities and Special Diets. Allergies, intolerances, celiac disease, and eating disorders each involve distinct mechanisms and management.
- Diet, Immunity, and Organ Health. Nutrition shapes athletic performance, immune defense, inflammation, and the health of the kidneys and liver.
- Nutritional Epidemiology in Practice. Landmark studies like DASH show how nutrition science builds and tests evidence about diet and disease.
- Alcohol, Labeling, and the Future of Dietary Guidance. Understanding of alcohol's risks, food labels, and personalized nutrition continues to evolve rapidly.
This is the starting point of Diet and Disease Prevention: you don't need any prior knowledge of this subject to begin.
Key points
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Final test
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Optional mini-games
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Further reading
Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.
- Willett, W. (2017). Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating. New York: Free Press.
- World Health Organization. (2023). "Healthy Diet." Fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
- World Health Organization. (2023). "No Level of Alcohol Consumption Is Safe for Our Health." https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health
- Appel, L. J., Moore, T. J., Obarzanek, E., et al. (1997). "A Clinical Trial of the Effects of Dietary Patterns on Blood Pressure." New England Journal of Medicine, 336(16), 1117-1124.
- Estruch, R., Ros, E., Salas-Salvadó, J., et al. (2018). "Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts." New England Journal of Medicine, 378(25), e34.
- Hall, K. D., Ayuketah, A., Brychta, R., et al. (2019). "Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain." Cell Metabolism, 30(1), 67-77.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov
- World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project: Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer. https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer