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Professional Diploma in Nutrition and Mental Health

 

Field and Subfield: Nutrition Sciences / Health Sciences

 

1. Program Overview:

An accredited professional and applied program extending over 3 months (80 hours of approved study load), aimed at preparing and qualifying nutrition specialists and healthcare practitioners to understand and explore the profound relationship between dietary patterns and mental and brain health. The program covers the human relationship with food, debunking nutrition myths, the effect of food on mood and energy levels, the role of inflammation and gut microbiota in brain health, the modified Mediterranean diet for mental health, strategies for planning dietary behavior change, dealing with stress and mood disorders, methods for preventing eating disorders and addressing sleep and wakefulness issues, self-compassion practices, and the concepts of Mindful Eating.

2. Key Objectives:

  • Understanding the relationship between food and mental health: understanding how nutritional components, gut microbiota, and inflammation affect brain function, mood, and human behavior.
  • Analyzing evidence and supportive dietary patterns: studying the modified Mediterranean diet for brain health and distinguishing nutritional facts from common myths.
  • Managing stress, eating disorders, and sleep: applying strategies for dealing with stressors, preventing eating disorders, and treating sleep and wakefulness disorders.
  • Promoting sustainable behaviors and mindful eating: integrating mindful eating practices, self-compassion, and rebuilding a positive and strong relationship between the individual and food.

3. Target Audience:

  • General, therapeutic, and clinical nutrition specialists.
  • Psychotherapists and mental health practitioners seeking to understand the role of nutrition in treatment.
  • Health & Lifestyle Coaches interested in holistic health.
  • Graduates and students of Nutrition, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, and Public Health.

4. Study Plan and Modules (12 Modules — 50 Interactive Training Hours):

Module

Topics and Training Units

Module 1

Introduction to mental health and well-being, and the human relationship with food

Module 2

The main components of food and elements that promote health and reduce disease

Module 3

Factors influencing our food choices and how to understand nutritional information

Module 4

Nutrition myths and common ideas versus objective scientific facts

Module 5

Food and mood: defining diet and mental health and investigating facts and myths

Module 6

The effect of inflammation and gut microbiota on mental and brain health and the latest evidence

Module 7

The modified Mediterranean diet for mental and brain health, and planning dietary change

Module 8

Stress, mood and behavioral disorders and their relationship with weight gain, and prevention of eating disorders

Module 9

Functions and stages of sleep, methods of measuring it, and treatment of sleep and wakefulness disorders

Module 10

Understanding the nature, causes, and symptoms of stress, and how to deal effectively with its triggers

Module 11

Components of self-compassion to support sound food choices and response to taste

Module 12

Rebuilding a strong relationship with food and applying Mindful Eating practices in daily life

 

5. Organizational Structure and Assessment System:

  • Duration and sessions: 3 months (evening period), at a rate of two lectures per week (two hours per lecture).
  • Language of study and delivery method: Arabic and English | fully remote interactive training (Online).
  • Distribution of credit hours (80 hours):

50 hours: live and interactive online lectures.

20 hours: required and open readings.

7 hours: chapter questions and self-assessment.

3 hours: final review and program completion examination.

  • Attendance and assessment requirements: attendance of no less than 75% of the lectures, and completion of periodic assignments and tasks.
  • Certificate and graduation project: the graduate is awarded a Diploma in Therapeutic Nutrition (Nutrition and Mental Health) after passing the final online examination consisting of 25 multiple-choice questions + 5 questions based on practical and applied cases.

 

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