“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” Bertrand Russell

We are living in exciting times. The internet is the reason for this excitement. Many things which we wanted to learn can now be learned not only online but for free. There are online giants like Khan Academy, Future Learn, Udemy, Coursera and many such online educators offer free as well as paid courses on very interesting subjects. Here I am discussing healthcare related courses which we all need to take up to become better aware of our physical and mental health.

FutureLearn. offers following healthcare related online free courses:

1. Food as Medicine

This course introduces the concept of food as medicine. You will explore how food can be important both in preventative health and as an aid in the management of certain chronic diseases today, in the past and in the future. You will also learn about what’s in the food that gives it the potential to improve our health and how to recognize which types of foods are essential for health and wellbeing, and how food can play an important role in treating/preventing disease.

2. Nutrition and Wellbeing

This course will help you understand the scientific basis of human nutrition, and current nutrition concepts and controversies.

3. The Diabetic Epidemic

This course aims to provide accessible material that emphasises the human element and self-care aspects of living with this chronic condition. It will facilitate learning through interactive media and peer discussion to enhancing knowledge around how diabetes develops, potential treatments, associated disease complications, global challenges, quality care and self-management practices.

4. The Musculoskeletal System

In this course, you’ll learn why our bones, joints, and muscles function less well as we age, and discover how best to live well as we get older.

5. Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance

In this online course, you’ll learn how to incorporate mindfulness practices into your life, to reduce stress and improve your personal and professional life.

6. Heart Health

This course will improve your knowledge of how the heart works, the causes of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and heart failure and what you can do to avoid them.

7. Psychology and Mental Health

You will gain new perspectives on the “nature vs nurture” debate, and understand how we are affected by life experiences. You will also discuss new research, which promises to help us improve our own mental health and well-being.

You will learn with Peter Kinderman, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool, and author of “A Prescription for Psychiatry: Why We Need a Whole New Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing.”

8. Causes of Human Disease: Understanding causes of disease

What causes human disease? Why do some people get a disease, but others don’t? Through this course, you’ll learn how epidemiologists are helping to find answers to these complex questions and how the health of a population is measured and analysed.

9. End of life care for people with Dementia

You’ll develop the knowledge and understanding that will help you provide better quality support to – and enhance the well-being and dignity of – people with dementia towards the end of life. You’ll also learn to better communicate and coordinate care with their families.

10. Talking about Cancer: Risk, early detection, and myth busting

This course will show you how to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle changes, use local services or visit their doctor promptly if they notice changes to their body. The skills you gain may also be useful in talking to people already affected by cancer. You’ll learn through quizzes, articles, discussion, and videos demonstrating conversational dos and Don’ts.

Knowledge from these courses perhaps will swing us into action for better health choices and regular exercise.

You can use Diwali holidays to become more knowledgeable about your own health and body with these free online courses.

Click on this link and start learning for free.

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” Anton Chekhov.