Why see a Registered Dietitian?

Is intermittent fasting healthy? Are acai berries a superfood? Do these diet pills really help with weight loss? With nutrition messages constantly bombarding us and ever-changing, it is quite hard to keep up! How do you know when something is good for your health or if it is just the latest food or diet trend?

It can become quickly overwhelming trying to decipher food and nutrition messages we commonly receive. One way to quickly cut to the chase is by seeking a nutrition expert, also known as, a dietitian.

What do the different titles mean?

When someone has an “RD” credential next to their name, this stands for “Registered Dietitian”. This means an individual has completed all requirements including schooling, internships, and examination to become a registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

The other abbreviation that you may commonly see is “RDN”.  This stands for Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and is the most up to date title from the commission on dietetics. The title was changed because of the confusion between the titles “dietitian” and “nutritionist”.

Due to licensing requirements, this credential is important when seeking someone to give you the most up to date and evidence-based practice guidelines when providing you nutrition counseling.

A nutritionist is a loose title that can be used by anybody without formal credentials; from a health coach that took a nutrition class online to your neighbor next door who has watched a documentary on Netflix regarding the best diet.

Just remember, every dietitian is a nutritionist,

but not every nutritionist is a dietitian.

Why see a dietitian?

A dietitian has highly specialized training in nutrition. They provide nutrition counseling and nutrition therapy which involves a wide range of topics. Some typical examples of common topics covered in nutrition sessions include:

• Nutrient education
• How your body utilizes nutrients
• Metabolism
• Hunger and fullness
• Diabetes counseling (Type 1, 2, or gestational)
• Hypertension
• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
• Hyperlipidemia
• Hypothyroidism
• GI issues
• Food allergies or intolerances
• Chronic dieting
• Recent body weight changes
• PCOS
• Disordered eating
• Eating disorders
• Emotional eating
• Mood and food
• Recent diet recommendations from a physician

If you struggle with or need guidance regarding any of the above, consider seeking guidance from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). A RDN has the knowledge and expertise to partner with you in exploring how to optimally nourish your body in a way that supports your overall health and wellness.

Call us today to make an appointment.