NUTRITION PROS or NOS?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are lots of people who work in the nutrition sector - however not all of them recommend complete balance.. namely that gym instructor who tells you to eat nothing but tinned tuna and broccoli to lose weight. (NOTE: Not all gym instructors do this - thank goodness).
Registered Dietitians (RDs) work in all areas of nutrition, like: hospitals, outpatient clinics, the media and also in food research and development. Dietitians have to undergo a degree in dietetics, this usually takes 3-4 years - we are full to the brim with knowledge and experience.
We learn all about nutrition, clinical conditions, biochemistry, biology and much, much more! Through all of these years at university, we learn to critically appraise scientific research and have the ability to translate this for our clients and patients. This puts us in a very good position to give sound, evidence-based nutrition advice (shout out to all the RDs out there!).
Dietitians usually help people who are healthy OR have clinical conditions (e.g. Crohn's, IBS and PCOS). If you are a generally healthy person then both nutritionists or dietitians can help you.
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When choosing a professional to support you with your nutrition, to ensure your receive sound advice, look for people who are registered with a professional body. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For dietitians working in the UK this is the Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) who ensure that our knowledge is up to date - we have to keep a record of our continued professional development. For nutritionists, ensure that they are Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) and accredited by an official body such as the association for nutrition.⠀⠀
To find out if your dietitian is registered you can check the HCPC register here.
Bare this in mind the next time you're looking for a nutrition professional with your best interests at heart and steer clear of the tinned tuna and broccoli diet, unless you like that kind of thing..
If you need some nutrition support you can apply to work with me 1:1 drop me an email or join the free "Gut Instinct Community" facebook group.
I can't wait to connect with you :)
Love,
Kirsty x