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Course Description

Maintaining the right levels of nutrients to optimize your body's performance can be tricky, and iron is no exception. If your iron levels fall too low, it can keep your body from functioning properly. According to the World Health Organization, anemia, or iron deficiency, affects 1.62 billion people globally. The population group with the highest number of anemics — 464 million — is non-pregnant women. These statistics demonstrate the importance of ensuring that there is enough iron in your diet, especially if you are a woman. On the other hand, always seeking to maximize iron intake can lead to health problems caused by excess iron. In this lesson, you will examine the role of iron in maintaining bodily functions. You will analyze how the "correct" amount of a particular nutrient can sometimes be swayed by those with an interest at stake; for example, the way the meat industry would benefit from pushing higher iron levels. You will also evaluate health claims to better assess when certain claims are rooted in political beliefs versus when they have a biological foundation. For the best result, complete three previous lessons in the Managing Weight, Exercise, and Nutrition series: Regulating Body Weight, What Exercise Does to the Body, and Nutrients and Athletic Performance, prior to taking this lesson.

Benefits to the Learner

  • Examine the role of iron in maintaining bodily functions
  • Analyze how the "correct" amount of a particular nutrient can sometimes be swayed by those with an interest at stake
  • Evaluate health claims to better assess when certain claims are based in politics versus when they have a biological foundation
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Type
self-paced (non-instructor led)
Dates
Feb 02, 2024 to Dec 31, 2030
Total Number of Hours
1.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $0.00
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