Want To Learn About Functional Nutrition? Here Are 20 Key Topics You'll Study

In addition to equipping you with the tools and education you need for optimal, long-lasting health, people trained in functional nutrition are skilled in the realms of nutrition science and behavioral change. They help others thrive by implementing lifestyle and dietary shifts that address the root cause of disease, support body function, and promote overall well-being.

From dairy-free to dietary pregnancy guidelines, the first module addresses some of today's most widespread, functional diets and outlooks on food. You'll learn that diet, beyond the mainstream buzz, is an ever-evolving, unique experience for both individuals and society at large. 

Identifying the source of both digestive and immune system responses (and undesired side effects) to certain foods is a crucial step toward better health. This four-lesson module will teach you about some of the most common food allergens and the building blocks to following an elimination diet, among others.

Optimal, proper nutrition is key to keeping disease at bay, improving mental capacity, increasing energy levels, and ensuring everyday wellness. You'll learn about the general healing diet, which is a dietary approach to strengthening your body's function while focusing on specific aspects of health.

This module targets inflammation from multiple perspectives through the lens of functional medicine and nutrition (causes, signs, dietary habits, etc.). It offers an overview of anti-inflammatory diets and lifestyle rituals to keep inflammation away.

From nutrient assimilation to immune resilience, learn about some of the crucial roles the gut plays in your health, along with science-informed ways to support your digestive system.

Take a deeper dive into thyroid health issues, modern treatments, and nutritional considerations in a seven-lecture module taught by hormone and women's health expert Taz Bhatia, M.D.

Amid today's epidemic of brain disorders, this much-needed module offers a sweeping view of brain health principles and their relationship to human nutrition, hormones, digestion, and inflammation, to name a few.

Thought of as the adaptogenic structure in the body, the endocannabinoid system works to keep the body in equilibrium and support homeostasis. Here you'll learn about ECS's components, primary sites of activity, and tone. You'll also glean some prevalent myths, misunderstandings, and health advantages associated with CBD.

This module shows you everything you need to know about the mighty intersection between nutrition and hormone health using an integrated food-as-medicine approach.

The 10-lesson unit on this topic introduces the concept of "inflammaging" to emphasize the strong connection between aging and inflammation. You'll learn about inflammaging triggers, healing protocols, and good-for-you tasty recipes.

Taught by Joel Kahn, M.D., and founder of the Khan Center for Cardiac Longevity, this course illustrates why the heart is such an important organ for optimal health. From fasting to nitric oxide, you'll touch on multiple research-based topics on all things heart strength.

Through a nine-lesson block, you'll discover the significant influence that proper nutrition and optimal lifestyle strategies have on health. You'll learn about the functional medicine approach to autoimmunity, how it works, and, most importantly, how to improve and support it. 

Tagging off the previous module, this 14-unit lesson plan looks at the underlying conditions that can cause chronic disease and overall dysfunction. It also suggests eating, lifestyle, and alternative protocols and tools to ward off illness and strengthen immunity.

Khan takes a thorough look at veganism, the history, and recent research that explores how this way of eating can positively influence one's health.

If you've wondered how to properly (and more wisely) navigate the vast supplement world, this module will teach you how to pick the best supplements to fill in potential nutritional gaps, address specific ailments, and make better-informed decisions for optimal health.

While lectins are not new to the mainstream wellness dialogue, this study guide will help you better understand lectins through the lens of immunity, gut health, and sustainable, lectin-free lifestyle habits. As a bonus, you'll learn how to pressure-cook lentils, too!

True prevention is not about waiting for disease to happen but understanding how to make food and lifestyle choices that assist you to stay well and promote resilience in a sustainable, viable manner. Here, Frank Lipman, M.D., will take you through a journey of various health-improving topics such as the functional medicine tree and nutrigenomics.

Here, you'll gain a broader comprehension of toxins as well as life-altering practices to support your body's detoxification functions.

A vibrant, glowing quality of life is possible at any age, and here, Steven Gundry, M.D., explains how. He discusses Blue Zone regions, as well as the difference between lifespan versus healthspan from the perspective of longevity. Ultimately, this module is all about fully recognizing how to be, live, and age better.

No nutrition program would be complete without collecting insight from others in the field. As part of the curriculum, mbg's Functional Nutrition Training program makes you a part of the conversation on functional medicine, brain health, disease prevention, chronic illness, and optimal well-being, among other topics.