How to Find a Nutrition Professional

I am going to do something a bit different this week because I saw a great online video that I just felt I needed to share. Make sure to click the link below to watch it.

As you know, the amount of nutrition information that is available, in print and online, is overwhelming. Even *I* have to stop and think about some of all the stuff I read. But, because I was formally educated in the science behind nutrition, often I stop and wonder how just amazing that some of stuff actually SELLS as accurate! But, as just a ‘regular Joe (or Josephina)’, how can you really know that what you’re reading is accurate, just plain wrong, hype, or someone’s attempt to sell you something?

The easiest way to be sure is to read materials from credible organizations. These are generally organizations that don’t have anything to sell you, except perhaps, such as with the American Heart Association, cookbooks, or other educational materials. There are a lot of private sites that offer nutrition articles that help sell their products. Supplement companies come foremost to my mind. Of course they will include a great article on the benefits of vitamin C! They also just happen to have a sale on it..

The next best way to be sure the nutrition information you are reading is see who wrote it. To be sure that you are reading accurate, science-based information, is if it has been written by someone with “RD” behind their name, which stands for “Registered Dietitian”. Anyone can call themselves a ‘nutritionist’. In fact, today, you will quite often see all types of nutritionists, with fancy words around it, such as ‘certified nutritionist’. Hm; I can’t help but wonder what that really means? Certified by whom? I have read some incredibly inaccurate information from people who received certifications in nutrition, but really are just sharing what worked for them. But a common thread is often they are promoting some type of fad-based technique, and nothing is really learned beyond another quick fix. What bothers me is the mis-information they are spreading, just due to their own ignorance. It’s ok that they don’t know; I don’t know a lot of things, but I’m not writing about them!

An RD is someone who received at least a bachelor of science degree in a nutrition field and then completed an internship that included a certain amount of hours in the various settings that will help them learn about working with people and working in food service situations. After completing an internship, they are then qualified to sit for the national exam to become an RD. An RD must maintain a certain number of continuing education hours each year to keep his/her credential. Although the traditional setting for RD’s is in the hospital, this is only one of the many areas RD’s work in. The video will talk more about that, however.

What if you read an article on nutrition from a university and the person writing it is not an RD? In cases such as this, chances are good that the author is an educator in this topic and although they may not have their RD, they may still have their formal education(s) in a nutrition topic. Although most professors who teach nutrition are also RDs, some have chosen to not go that route, usually because they knew early they only wanted to teach at the university level.

The bottom line is to consider where the information is coming from; what site it is posted on, who the author is, and, above all else, does it make sense to you! Even I could write an article that may be science-based but my opinion included may not be something that works for you! The ultimate goal for you is to read materials that make sense to you and help you achieve your goals in the healthiest and most accurate way possible.

To see the video on what RD’s are and how to find one, click here:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3259616576941210986