Will you go to a Fruit Seller and ask him to repair your Electrical Appliances?
It is quite an absurd thing to do, right !
Then why are you so casual about taking guidance from anybody regarding your food, health and nutrition ? Food has the power to protect, heal, nourish and grow you, so start taking your food and nutrition seriously. It is very important that if we want a certain outcome we need to make sure we go to the right place or the person.
Nowadays the trend of staying healthy is taking over so fast that we are listening to everyone regarding food and nutrition. We are adopting new dietary habits, trying out new exercises etc. without knowing its overall impact on our body and verifying the information sources.
In our personal health journey to seek consultation we would need to know who is authorized to guide us for a particular outcome, hence it is very important to learn how every health expert differs from one another and to know who are the light bringers of food, nutrition and health.
We have divided the expertise in Health and Nutrition in three basic categories depending on the approach they undertake to provide us solutions regarding health and well being.
- Dietitian.
- Nutritionist.
- Holistic Nutritionist.
Dietitian.
Dietitians will approach nutrition through the lens of a more reductionist approach, this means they will focus more on calories as well as isolated nutrients. Dietitians focus most on general Government and Health Organization guidelines such as the food guide or the food pyramid.
In India to become a Dietitian you are required to clear the RD Exam ( Registered Dietician ) and become part of IDA ( Indian Dietary Association ). Dietitians are recognized by law and are given the license to practice as an expert on food, health and nutrition. Every Dietician is also a Nutritionist, depending on their area of specialization they may choose to work as Pediatric Dieticians, Sports and Health Dieticians, Research and Development etc.
Nutritionist.
A nutritionist will incorporate a bit of a more whole food perspective or a whole picture perspective. This is where they still may focus on some isolated nutrients and calories but be more likely to focus on specific foods and food groups in terms of how they interact and influence your health and weight.
They are also more likely to consider different dietary approaches.
There is no legal requirement for nutritionists to register under any accredited board or organization. Not all Nutritionists are Dietitians. There are many certification programs available for nutritionists, but regulations and coursework is inconsistent. But in various parts of the world to practice as a Nutritionist a person needs to clear a certain mandated examination.
Holistic Nutritionist.
There is one more level and that is holistic nutritionist. And that would be moving into an even broader aspect of the whole picture perspective regarding food, nutrition and health.
Holistic nutritionists will help you better understand your body as a whole, how it functions, how different things impact it and your food as a whole. They evaluates how different foods and nutrients interact and then function, interact and impact your body. An Holistic Nutritionist will also take into consideration the deeper nature of your health and well being such as the mind level, the emotional level, and even the spiritual level.
So Dietitians, Nutritionist and Holistic Nutritionist can give you three different perspectives on food, nutrition, health and what is healthy. Depending on what you resonate with, what you need that’s how you should go about seeking the right support for you at any given time.
Now What About Health Coaches / Health Social Media Influencers / Food Brands / Sasumaa / Gym Trainers etc. – Shall we listen to them ?
We are now flooded with information across our daily life so it is very important to choose a credible source and find out what works best for us. A little bit of self research can help us discover eye opening facts.
Well, anyone can preach about good health and fitness. And share their personal understanding on what is defined as healthy. Experience is the greatest teacher, hence suggestions from people who are experienced in dealing with food and exercises helps, but not always reliable.
The gamut of Food and Nutrition is changing everyday with the changing world, the more we keep ourselves updated the more we shall be able to make conscious decisions on how to keep us healthy and use food to our benefits.
We suggest everyone to seek help from a person who both in Qualification and as Practice chose Health and Nutrition to guide people.
The three categories of health experts discussed are based on science. The qualification to become a certified dieticians and nutritionist is similar to a certain extent, where all experts are laced with the knowledge of food and nutrition.
Only the approach undertaken by different experts goes from granular to holistic, considering even more factors, connecting several dots inside and out to provide a solution for a person’s health and well being. And that’s how each health expert’s job roles varies. You could find Dietitians work in hospitals preparing diet plans for patients and in Government organization formulating food and nutrition policies. And you could find Nutritionists providing suggestions on the right food habits to maintain adequate weight to keep one fit and suggest verified dietary routines.