The Nutrition Academy Logo
The Nutrition Academy Logo
The Nutrition Academy Logo

Functional Nutrition
Course

Create a new healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family
FREE Sample Lesson 

LEARNING
OUTCOME

Create a new healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family

TYPE OF
STUDY

100% Online and
self-paced

RECOGNITION

Approved course through the International Institute of Complimentary Therapists (IICT) 

DURATION

12 - 24 Months

Is this the course for me?

This course is for you if you are wanting to expand on your current knowledge, improve your own health or the health of your family or are considering a career in Nutrition. Functional Nutrition Essentials is a 12-24 month course and is  IICT approved. The course requires you to complete study and assessments. At completion of the course you will be qualified and able to gain insurance to practice as a Nutrition Consultant. For more information you can download our course guide HERE.

What you'll learn?

Based on the vitalistic philosophy, this course dives deep into past and present-day nutrition trends and the implications on our health and wellbeing. Learn exactly where your food comes from and create holistic change for yourself and others to increase energy and build immunity. 

Anthropology and diet: an evolutionary perspective.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Vitalism
- Anthropology and diet: an evolutionary perspective
- Food trends and cultural influences on food
- Nutrition in the 21st century
- Food trends and nutritional habits within modern society many others.

With a focus on the biomedical, this module covers the essential information about the relationship between nutrition and the human body as an intelligent, self-aware system that processes food in a natural way to achieve health and longevity.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Nutrients and health
- Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems
- Metabolism and the energetics of food
- The digestive system

Discover the modern influences that disrupt the ‘innate’ human intelligence of the body. Learn about the role of marketing and advertising of foods on health, supplements, drugs, food additives, chemicals and genetically modified foods, and how these impact our daily lives and health status.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Supplements, drugs and food additives
- Influences of marketing and advertisement
- The chemical revolution
- Genetic modification

Gain detailed knowledge about the Immune System, including Autoimmunity and Immune Dysfunction and how they can be influenced by food and nutrition. Investigate food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances to understand the differences between each of the and identify their consequences as they appear within the human body. Finally, the module will explore one of the largest areas of the Immune System, the Gut, with a focus on understanding ‘Leaky Gut’.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- The amazing immune system
- Autoimmunity and immune dysfunction
- Nutrition, immune function and probiotics
- Leaky gut and autoimmune disease 

Understand a key component in any diet – Cholesterol and Fats. looks at the facts about cholesterol and fats, their relationship with the human body and their overall impact on human health.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Traditional and evolving beliefs about fat and cholesterol
- Fats 101
- Good fats and bad fats
- The impact of fat and cholesterol on the human body: Implications for disease

Explore the basic science, history and nutritional role that sugar plays in the human body. Participants will learn about Insulin resistance, Type I and Type II Diabetes. They will also learn to recognise the properties of sugar that can impact on an individual’s overall health and wellbeing.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Sugar: a historical perspective of its science and nutritional roles in the human body
- Evolution and disease processes
- Type I diabetes and Type II diabetes
- Management strategies for diabetes

This module explores the complexity and multi-faceted issues of obesity and other types of dysfunctional relationships with food, from both the body and mind perspective. The participant will gain an understanding of the issues of obesity and the problems associated with obesity management.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Obesity: a brief historical perspective, epidemiology and social impact
- Obesity and control of appetite
- Food addiction and the psychology of food
- Obesity and management

Understand the nutritional needs of different age groups — babies and children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Learn to identify the impact different foods have on the health of these different age groups, and the long-term effects they have on people’s health.

Learn about the complex world of hormones and the connections between hormonal balance in the human body and diet. Look at key life events that alter the body’s natural hormone balance and identify and apply nutritional changes to restore hormone balance during these events. 

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Hormones and the endocrine system
- The thyroid and iodine: diet and diagnosis
- Fertility, pregnancy and menopause
- Balancing hormones

Explore the connection between eating and exercise across the spectrum, from non-athletes to elite and professional sports people. Research and investigate these connections from the perspective of increasing performance and decreasing the risk of injury.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Exercise and sport
- Professional and elite athletes
- Food supplements and exercise performance
- Eating for longevity

Discover a wide array of diet trends. Explore both the pros and cons of each varying diet to make informed choices to suit an individual’s needs.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Diet trends, Part 1
- Diet trends, Part 2
- Blood, saliva, urine and sensitivity testing
- Recommending suitable diets

Learn the many other facets that contribute to health and well-being. Discover a range of factors in determining holistic solutions that will facilitate sustained change in your health and well-being.

Lessons covered in this module include:

- Microbiomes and nutrigenomics
- Emotion: grief, anxiety and depression
- Cosmetics
- The environment

Additional income streams that you can make by becoming a Nutrition Academy affiliate.
Enrol Now
Get in touch

How is the course delivered?

The Functional Nutrition course is 100% online with no classroom time needed, so you can study when it suits you! 

There are activities, quizzes and assessments throughout the course and you are allocated a study assessor throughout the course until it is completed. You receive through written feedback and critique on assignments so that you can be sure you are tracking well with integrating your learnings. 

Course Fees

Functional Nutrition Course Full Payment

$3,697
Enroll Now
Non-refundable unless within
our cooling off period see FAQS

Functional Nutrition Course Payment Plan

$4,100
Payments start from $77.50
Clear
Non-refundable unless within
our cooling off period see FAQS

Hear from our students

See the latest reviews from our course graduates!

Hear from our students

See the latest reviews from our course graduates!

Monique Hastie

“I felt like I was missing a piece after completing my bachelor of nutrition. I felt like The Nutrition Academy offered me all that information I really wanted to learn more about…

Monique Hastie

“I felt like I was missing a piece after completing my bachelor of nutrition. I felt like The Nutrition Academy offered me all that information I really wanted to learn more about…

Monique Hastie

“I felt like I was missing a piece after completing my bachelor of nutrition. I felt like The Nutrition Academy offered me all that information I really wanted to learn more about…

Monique Hastie

“I felt like I was missing a piece after completing my bachelor of nutrition. I felt like The Nutrition Academy offered me all that information I really wanted to learn more about…

It absolutely changed my life.
It’s critical and it’s time that we all start to take our power back.

Alicia Berry, Functional Nutrition Course graduate.

Download course guide

Download a copy of the Functional Nutrition course guide below!

The Nutrition Academy is committed to protecting your personal information in line with our Privacy Policy.
You can also unsubscribe easily at any time!

Your Questions Answered

The Introduction to Nutrition Course is our introductory, Information only course. It is a great starting course especially if you are new to nutrition and our philosophy. It does not contain any assessments. It consists of a selection of different learning formats from podcasts, to reports to videos etc. The Introduction course sets the foundation of learning about our philosophy, so you can move into our more advanced Functional Nutrition Essentials or Functional Nutrition IICT Approved course if you wish.

If your knowledge of Nutrition is at starter level, then we would suggest completing the Introduction to Nutrition course first. It is based on our course creator, Cyndi O’Meara’s book Changing Habits Changing Lives (Now called- Lab To Table). If you are not familiar with this book or the philosophy, then we suggest starting at this level or familiarising yourself with the content of Lab To Table book before starting Functional Nutrition Essentials. If you have some basic foundational knowledge of Nutrition you can start with Functional Nutrition Essentials.

Our Introduction to Nutrition and Microbiome courses can be started anytime during the year.

Functional Nutrition Essentials and the Functional Nutrition IICT approved course have several intakes during the course of the year. You can start either of these courses at any time, however Intake periods will offer sponsorship to the course (meaning you can enrol for a discounted rate).

Our courses are not government accredited. We are an approved Training provider with IICT (International Institute of Complementary Therapists). This means graduates of our Functional Nutrition and Functional Nutrition Essentials course qualify for Membership and Insurance through one of the most comprehensive professional bodies for Natural Therapists in the world. All our graduates in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Europe and United Kingdom, qualify for membership and insurance under the modality of Nutrition Consultant.

IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists) and IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre) are independent organisations that recognise training providers and their courses in the health and wellness field. Accreditation from these bodies means The Nutrition Academy’s courses have been reviewed and approved as meeting their standards for quality and professional education.

This accreditation provides reassurance that our programs are recognised within the natural health industry. As approved Nutrition Consultants, our graduates are supported by professional membership, insurance, and legitimacy through these recognised bodies.This accreditation demonstrate the value of these studies to future clients, employers, and professional associations, and may provide access to additional professional networks and opportunities.

Introduction to Nutrition : This course is a 10-module course that can be completed in 10 weeks working on one module per week. You'll have 12 months access to complete it.
Functional Nutrition Essentials : Is a 12-module course which can be completed within 12 months or less and we'll give you 2 years access to complete it.
Functional Nutrition IICT Approved Course : Is a 12-module course which can be completed within 12 months or less and we'll give you 2 years access to complete it.
Microbiome Course : Is a 10-module course that can be completed in 10 weeks if you can complete a module a week. You'll have 12 months access to complete it.

It takes approximately 4-6 hours per lesson and there are 4 lessons per module. If you can dedicate 4-6 hours per week and complete one lesson weekly or one module per month you could complete the 12 modules in 12 months. 



You can however spend a lot more time if you are interested in a topic, as there are additional suggested readings for each module. We also understand that everyone learns at a different pace, so these are approximate guidelines only. That’s why we give you two years access to complete the course.

Yes, Functional Nutrition Course does have assessments and quizzes at the end of each module so you are able to integrate your learning through the course.

Yes, you are provided with support throughout your learning journey by The Nutrition Academy team, qualified assessors, and other learners and graduates through our private Facebook group, online forum and direct messaging system in the E-Learning Platform.

Our courses are completely online, meaning you don't have to go to any physical classrooms – you can learn from wherever you're comfortable. Besides the main course materials, we hold monthly webinars for students, which you can join online or watch later since they're recorded.



The course itself covers a range of resources like lesson notes, videos, audios, and interactive activities to help you grasp the material and enhance your critical thinking. Everything you need to ace your assessments is included. At the end of each module, we've also added a suggested readings section. These are optional books we recommend for those who want to keep expanding their knowledge. The best part? There's no extra charge – they're automatically part of the package.

We empower our learners to develop critical thinking skills, especially in the face of a barrage of conflicting information. Our aim is to equip our learners with the ability to discern credible sources and to be well-versed in locating and presenting evidence when needed.



The knowledge you acquire through our course sets it apart from other mainstream nutrition programs available. Our holistic approach is rooted in Cultural Anthropology principles and a vitalistic perspective on nutrition, viewing the body as a complete entity. Instead of merely focusing on individual components, we examine the entire system and its interconnectedness. This approach delves into how the components collaborate harmoniously to achieve specific functions and outcomes.

Absolutely! Our courses are entirely online, so you can access the course content from anywhere around the globe, provided you have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer.

Learn from world-class experts

Alexx Start

Impacts Of The
Modern World

ALEXX STUART
DR. DAMIAN KRISTOF

Eating Through The Generations

DR. DAMIAN KRISTOF
DR. NATASHA CAMPBELL-MCBRIDE

The Immune
System

DR. NATASHA CAMPBELL-MCBRIDE
DR. PETER BRUKNER

The Importance of Eating and Exercise

DR. PETER BRUKNER
DR, SHERILL SELLMAN

Hormones

DR, SHERILL SELLMAN
DR. JASON HAWRELAK

The Microbiodata

DR. JASON HAWRELAK
RICHARD WRANGHAM

Cultural
Anthropology

RICHARD WRANGHAM
DR. SARAH FARRANT

Vitalism

DR. SARAH FARRANT

Learn from world-class experts

Alexx Start

Impacts Of The
Modern World

ALEXX STUART
DR. DAMIAN KRISTOF

Eating Through The Generations

DR. DAMIAN KRISTOF
DR. NATASHA CAMPBELL-MCBRIDE

The Immune
System

DR. NATASHA CAMPBELL-MCBRIDE
DR. PETER BRUKNER

The Importance of Eating and Exercise

DR. PETER BRUKNER
DR, SHERILL SELLMAN

Hormones

DR, SHERILL SELLMAN
DR. JASON HAWRELAK

The Microbiodata

DR. JASON HAWRELAK
RICHARD WRANGHAM

Cultural
Anthropology

RICHARD WRANGHAM
DR. SARAH FARRANT

Vitalism

DR. SARAH FARRANT

Learn online from any location

Latest News

There are more things that meet the eye going on in your amazing body. Make sure you`re giving it the care it deserves by being mindful about what you`re taking in and how it impacts you.

59 2
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18040438241687672
There are more things that meet the eye going on in your amazing body. Make sure you're giving it the care it deserves by being mindful about what you're taking in and how it impacts you.

...

59 2

We are officially closing enrolments for the assessment-based Functional Nutrition course, for the last time EVER. Once you enrol, you have until January 1st 2027 to complete it. If you`ve ever been on the fence about our flagship course, now is the time to do it. ⁠
⁠
↳ follow the link in our bio

3 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18099437965774260
We are officially closing enrolments for the assessment-based Functional Nutrition course, for the last time EVER. Once you enrol, you have until January 1st 2027 to complete it. If you've ever been on the fence about our flagship course, now is the time to do it. ⁠ ⁠ ↳ follow the link in our bio

...

3 1

Just like happiness, financial freedom, and a happy marriage, it`s not something you achieve, it`s something you nurture every day. How do you nurture your wellness?

5 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 17856557442569072
Just like happiness, financial freedom, and a happy marriage, it's not something you achieve, it's something you nurture every day. How do you nurture your wellness?

...

5 1

Do you check the back of your low or no added sugar, naturally sweetened or low calorie foods to get a real sense of what`s in your food? Erythritol is one of many sugar alcohols made in a lab that add low-value nutrients, or even anti-nutrients, to your food.

10 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18317977684217132
Do you check the back of your low or no added sugar, naturally sweetened or low calorie foods to get a real sense of what's in your food? Erythritol is one of many sugar alcohols made in a lab that add low-value nutrients, or even anti-nutrients, to your food.

...

10 1

Are you looking for the opportunity to make informed, critical choices for your health and the health of your loved ones? Study the Functional Nutrition Essentials course.⁠
⁠
↳ follow the link in our bio

2 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18098300482839069
Are you looking for the opportunity to make informed, critical choices for your health and the health of your loved ones? Study the Functional Nutrition Essentials course.⁠ ⁠ ↳ follow the link in our bio

...

2 1

Many cultures around the world use the hot and cold to their natural advantage, to regulate the nervous system, assist with hormone production, weight management, even better skin and hair health. How do you use temperature to regulate your body?⁠
⁠

126 6
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18110868376614376
Many cultures around the world use the hot and cold to their natural advantage, to regulate the nervous system, assist with hormone production, weight management, even better skin and hair health. How do you use temperature to regulate your body?⁠ ⁠

...

126 6

We love hearing Melissa`s story, now that her success has exploded with @secretspiceco, @the_seed_cycle and her Seeds of Sisterhood book. Are you a graduate with a great story? We`d love to hear it! ⁠

15 2
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18109479319614148
We love hearing Melissa's story, now that her success has exploded with @secretspiceco, @the_seed_cycle and her Seeds of Sisterhood book. Are you a graduate with a great story? We'd love to hear it! ⁠

...

15 2

Whichever answer you select, there`s a The Nutrition Academy course that`s right for you. If you`re not sure which one is right for you, do our quiz!⁠
⁠
↳ follow the link in our bio

2 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 17853787794580178
Whichever answer you select, there's a The Nutrition Academy course that's right for you. If you're not sure which one is right for you, do our quiz!⁠ ⁠ ↳ follow the link in our bio

...

2 1

If you`ve read Atomic Habits - or read, listened to or watched anything inspired by Atomic Habits - you know that `you don’t rise to your goals, you fall to your systems`. If you keep in mind your core values (wellbeing, freedom, longevity, self-actualisation, self-authority) and build your life around those, you do not have very far to fall.

6 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18083119196026386
If you've read Atomic Habits - or read, listened to or watched anything inspired by Atomic Habits - you know that 'you don’t rise to your goals, you fall to your systems'. If you keep in mind your core values (wellbeing, freedom, longevity, self-actualisation, self-authority) and build your life around those, you do not have very far to fall.

...

6 1

Glycogen is one of the ways your body can provide fuel for your body. Isn`t it amazing how your body can use different resources in different ways to keep moving?

13 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18057086555647753
Glycogen is one of the ways your body can provide fuel for your body. Isn't it amazing how your body can use different resources in different ways to keep moving?

...

13 1

Enjoy the confidence of making informed choices for yourself with our courses.

1 1
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 18301143757253312
Enjoy the confidence of making informed choices for yourself with our courses.

...

1 1

What routine do you love that ensures you get all of the fundamentals in your day?

87 5
Open post by thenutrition_academy with ID 17929892562138738
What routine do you love that ensures you get all of the fundamentals in your day?

...

87 5

Stay Connected

© Copyright The Nutrition Academy 2024
Student Login

Menu

My Account

Terms

Our Newsletter

Subscribe to receive our emails to keep up to date with ground-breaking nutrition trends, events, articles and so much more.

Stay Connected

© Copyright The Nutrition Academy 2023
Student Login

Menu

My Account

Terms

Our Newsletter

Subscribe to receive our emails to keep up to date with ground-breaking nutrition trends, events, articles and so much more.

Our Newsletter

Subscribe to receive our emails to keep up to date with ground-breaking nutrition trends, events, articles and so much more.

Menu

My Account

Terms

Stay Connected

© Copyright The Nutrition Academy 2023
Student Login

As you all know AI is changing education. Artificial intelligence is putting courses together in hours and being sold by huge numbers of people who do not have the breadth, time, and knowledge that I have gathered in 45 years of a career in Nutrition — nor the intention to genuinely educate and improve the health of others, but simply to jump on a trending industry and make a profit. I want more people to be educated about real nutrition, and by myself with my small team, The Nutrition Academy no longer has the capacity to support the Functional Nutrition Course as you know it. We are not able to reach those who need our course on the global market, or to be supported by sales to provide struggling students with the attention and time they need to complete the original course. 

 The Functional Nutrition Course with Assessment IICT certification will be offered for the last time January 1st 2026.

All students enrolled in the Functional Nutrition Course must be completed by January 1st 2027.

Please check out our Functional Nutrition Essentials course, our new flagship course.