It is not always easy to independently adhere to the principles of nutritious nutrition, because there is no single correct way that would take into account all individual characteristics. Therefore, people are increasingly turning to a specialist – a nutritionist – to get recommendations on nutrition, improve their general condition and change their lifestyle. Family nutritionist Antonina Tsvinaria, brand director of the International Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIIN), told socialbites.ca how not to encounter a non-professional and what “red flags” you should pay attention to.
“A nutritionist helps with nutrition, lifestyle change, motivation, energy renewal and healthy habits. However, in some cases, if you have health problems or chronic diseases, the nutritionist will refer you to a doctor for diagnosis. “In addition, if the doctor deems it necessary, he will prescribe treatment and work with a nutritionist, implement a health strategy and task the nutrition consultant with the daily support of the client,” he explained.
According to the expert, with the help of a nutritionist, you can understand the effects of foods on the body and find out what motivations guide your food choices. But as in any profession, not all specialists have a sufficient amount of knowledge and skills to achieve a safe and successful result.
The expert listed various criteria on how not to make mistakes when choosing a nutritionist-consultant.
“Pay attention to your education. A competent specialist must have a long-term basic education in nutritional science and constantly improve his skills by taking additional courses and seminars. The diploma must be issued by an organization that has a license for educational activities. You will also need to know what approach the specialist uses in practice and what principles he adheres to in his work. “Like every science, nutrition science is divided into categories. Therefore, for example, only a pediatric nutritionist can work with children,” he explained.
It is also important to note that the nutritionist does not prescribe you exhausting diets and does not force you to count calories. Its purpose is a complete and varied diet tailored to your situation and goals.
“A nutritionist should not recommend you a lot of nutritional supplements. The main emphasis will be on working on nutrition and digestion, developing healthy habits, sleep patterns and stress management. The nutritionist also does not recommend medications or injections. This goes beyond his competence,” the expert added.
Additionally, the nutritionist does not challenge or cancel the doctor’s instructions and does not work with clients with acute or chronic diseases.
“Even without being a doctor, a nutritionist can analyze deficiencies and imbalances in the body, adjust nutrition according to lifestyle, age, genetic characteristics and other parameters, help create a personalized nutrition program and incorporate healthy eating habits into your routine.” the expert concluded.
Previously AppearedHe says they hope to integrate nutritionists into the mainstream healthcare system.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.