Nutrition
Be a driver of optimal health for communities and individuals by learning about nutrition in wellness and disease.
Nutrition plays a critical role in the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The study of nutrition focuses on the actions, interactions, and balance of nutrients and bioactive components in relation to human health and disease. It also involves understanding special nutrient needs at different stages of life, and explores the social determinants influencing food consumption, food access, and health. Nutrition impacts outcomes in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, certain cancers, and other chronic diseases, as well as malnutrition and nutrient deficiency diseases. It plays a vital role in general wellness, fitness, athletics and healthy aging. Understanding the importance of nutrition in many other health conditions is an area of growth.
Nutrition faculty are engaged in many areas of research, including the molecular mechanisms of bioactive compounds, epigenetics in cancer prevention, dietary interventions to improve maternal health, health literacy, social determinants of health, and more.