You guys. What kind of world are we living in when one can consider themselves qualified to give nutrition advice because they post pictures of meals they consider “healthy” and/or talk about said pictures of meals on the internet? Or because they take a day-long class on nutrition? Or call themselves a “holistic health coach”? What is this bullshit?
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pretty-ish view from inside
I’m a little cranky as I have been working at the hospital this weekend (well, on Saturday), in perfect beach weather. BUT STILL. In between patients I’ll check Instagram or Twitter or maybe Google Reader though I increasingly wonder why I do this. My blood begins to boil as I am trying to calculate a tube feed for a patient with hyperkalemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, a pressure ulcer and dehydration (not a good combination). This is what many actual nutrition professionals/experts do, I think to myself as I see and hear of random people who seem to have just woken one morning and decided they were a nutritionist. And what makes it worse is that their audience (fans? ugh) eat it up (pun?) take the advice and ask for more.
I could, of course, stop reading these blogs and start unfollowing on Twitter and Instagram. But they would still be out there, not to mention all of the others in real life, and that drives me bananas.
Would you ask a random stranger who posts pictures of airplanes for advice on flying one? I hope not.
It takes a lot of training, education and money to learn how to fly a plane and become a licensed pilot, just like it does to become a registered dietitian (the only qualified and legit “nutritionists”). I get very feisty when my profession is belittled by so many unqualified people trying to pose as nutritionists or act like nutrition “experts” by giving advice via the internet or actually charging people for it. Not only are they detracting RDs and what we do, but they are taking away resources (i.e., clients, $$) from the actual experts.
Becoming an MS, RD was expensive for me – six figures worth of student loan debt expensive – and while I would rather be in debt for the rest of my life than a fake “nutritionist,” the loans aren’t going to pay themselves back. As long as the unqualified are out there and in business, potential clients are being taken away from the actual experts. That not only sucks for me and other semi-poor RDs, but it sucks for the people who are getting shitty, unresearched advice.
I guess my point here is that yes, anyone can say they are a “nutritionist.” The term requires no certification or formal training and does not imply “expert” in any way. Not everyone can call themselves a registered dietitian, which requires a lot of schooling, training, passing an exam and constant research. In a nutshell, all RDs are nutritionists, not all nutritionists are RDs. Only RDs are nutrition experts.
If you see a “nutritionist”, seek advice from someone calling themselves a “nutritionist” or read a freaking “healthy living blog” that gives nutrition advice and they do not have an RD at the end of their name, then they are not qualified. A lot of people do not understand this difference, and I think the disconnect is a HUGE problem for registered dietitians legitimately trying to practice and make a living.
Here’s more information from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, if you’re interested.
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salmon and cucumber roll with brown rice
I posted this photo on my Instagram the other day, and it was delicious. I didn’t give nutrition advice along with it (never give it away for free – best advice I’ve gotten recently), I think I just said it was good. But still, I can’t help but mention here is that the salmon is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids (DHA specifically, which are abundant in the brain), which may or may not slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in those affected with it. The verdict was still out as of May, when I handed in a very lengthy research paper on the topic. And got an A.
Now tell me: Did you know the difference between a nutritionist and a registered dietitian? Tell me what you think about this topic!