| There is certainly a huge amount of information in | | | | to keep up their expertise by taking education |
| circulation these days; on the web, in magazines, | | | | courses every year. |
| on the television. Trying to separate out fact | | | | You can be sure of getting honest information |
| from fiction can be quite the daunting task. Please | | | | from individuals who have graduated with a |
| let me take a few minutes to help you figure out | | | | Master's Degree and or PhD in Nutrition Science, |
| who is the legitimate nutrition expert, and who is | | | | even if they haven't received their certification as |
| simply trying to sell you a product. This | | | | a registered dietitian. These are people who have |
| information will help you choose which information | | | | not simply read a few books on diet and nutrition; |
| you can trust. | | | | they have spent several years studying the |
| First of all, you should know that ANYONE could | | | | science of Nutrition. They understand how to |
| call himself or herself a nutritionist. There are no | | | | analyze claims made in the media, as well as the |
| laws or guidelines determining who can give out | | | | research methods that may be behind those |
| nutrition advice. I will never forget when I was | | | | claims. |
| visiting my parents one weekend while going to | | | | With a Master's Degree in Nutrition Science, I am |
| graduate school. While at the swimming pool at | | | | also an RD, but I like to call myself a nutritionist. I |
| our local Jewish Community Center, a friend of | | | | like to think of myself as being concerned with |
| theirs wanted to know what I was studying at | | | | total nutrition, not just diets, which may be how |
| college. "Nutrition science" I replied. And I'll never | | | | some people interpret the RD. Most people with |
| forget what this woman said: "oh, my daughter | | | | degrees in Nutrition Science do know about |
| has read so many books on nutrition that I'm | | | | treating the whole person, not just individual |
| sure she can call herself a nutritionist just like | | | | conditions require specialized diets. Some people |
| you." I was astounded! Surely my parents would | | | | are under the misconception that dietitians want |
| have loved finding out all their hard earned oney | | | | to overwhelm their clients with information they |
| on my college education could have been spent | | | | don't want or need. That is simply not true. Most |
| on simply buying a food diet books. | | | | of us are skilled in the sciences, and are trained to |
| I don't think so. | | | | be nutrition counselors as well. Nutrition is not a |
| However, I did finish my degree and I have | | | | "one size fits all", and we realize we must work to |
| learned a few things about finding good nutrition | | | | individualize our recommendations to meet your |
| information, which I want to share with you. First | | | | specific concerns. We will also work to answer all |
| and foremost, I recommend you look for people | | | | the questions you have about nutrition that don't |
| who have the initials RD after their name. RD | | | | necessarily relate to your own personal needs. |
| stands for Registered Dietitian. Registered | | | | You will always see my credentials along with the |
| dietitians have at least a bachelor's degree in | | | | word "Nutritionist" next to my name, because |
| nutrition. Most have Master's Degrees and PhDs in | | | | while I may have read many diet books, with my |
| nutrition science or a related science area. In | | | | background, I possess the scientific knowledge to |
| addition to these degrees, RD's also have passed | | | | tell fact from fiction. |
| a standardized national exam and must continue | | | | |