Certified / Registered / Integrative / Holistic / Clinical / Medicinal / Functional / Therapist
Most of these Nutritionist titles are not regulated, they can be used by those who:
- Completed human nutrition degree / research and have internship training
- Trained in other related subjects and are knowledgeable about human diets
-Trained a notch above high school and have great marketing skills
- Practice via their own personal experience and reading
- Did a short part-time course (can be online)
- Follow a particular theory such as the raw food diet
( a small percentage of licensed practitioners are engaged in unscientific nutrition practices)
Compare that to doctors where :
General Physicians (MD) have completed the full medical school training and internships and must be licensed to practice
Specialist doctors such as an eye surgeon, a bone surgeon, a kidney specialist, or a pediatrician... have all done further specific training, internships and are "Board Certified" in their specialty and have experience.
Or the nursing profession :
Nurse Practitioners (NP) with 4 to 5 years of intensive training
A Registered Nurse (RN) has completed a degree and hours of internships on the job
The only nutritionist title that is regulated across the whole country is:
Registered Dietitian (RD), all RDs are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are RDs
Only about 4% of the population receive expert individualized RD consults.
RDs are experts at interpreting studies and science correctly into practice for your specific health, lifestyle / medications.
RDs can be specialists, for example in pediatrics or gastroenterology, or work in schools, for sports teams and Olympic athletes, be health writers, work for food non-profits /city health departments/ with low-income programs or in the food industry or in research.
New York State also regulates the titles:
Certified Dietitian, Certified Nutritionist and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (CD,CN and CDN)
These are people with hard-earned degrees in nutrition who have chosen not to go the registered dietitian route who are knowledgeable about diets, some may have counseling experience in a specific area only.
Thus a RD and the titles CD, CDN and CN in New York State are a source of solid credible nutrition consults for treatment of conditions such diabetes, severe food allergy or sensitivity and for "holistic nutrition" e.g pregnancy, competitive athletes, individuals who feel confused about nutrition and specialize.
Busy hospital RDs will refer you to specialists for the "holistic" aspects of your lifestyle.
Other highly t rained nutritionists include:
Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) the doctoral level Nutritionist who may also seek certification by the American Board of Nutrition as specialists in clinical nutrition (M.D.'s only) or human nutritional sciences (M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s).
Active members of the ASNS - American Society for Nutritional Sciences (formerly the American Institute of Nutrition), have published meritorious research on some aspect of nutrition and are presently working in the field. The clinical arm of ASNS is the American Society for Clinical Nutrition (ASCN)
The Unregulated Nutritionist Titles popular in New York City are :
*Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) The credential is offered to professionals with an accredited master's or doctoral degree who have clinical experience and pass an examination by the Certification Board for Nutritional Specialists, started in 1993.
* Integrative /Holistic Nutritionists / Health Counselors (HHN) complete a part-time 8 month Integrative Health course in New York with Joshual Rosenthal with a big focus on marketing and building a business and website. The guest lecturers from recognized institutes are used as the basis for credibility.
The students usually offer "free talks" and combine other services such as yoga or exercise or cooking or career counseling for a "jack of a few lifestyle skills" approach. If you need basic healthy nutrition with a green angle, join their programs. They encourage you to talk and explore the wheel of life = relationships, career, emotions etc. Do use common sense. Despite what they state, RDs are not in cahoots with the food industry or supplement manufacturers!
*A Holistic Health Nutritionist (HHN) - Be aware their qualifications maybe based on personal experience and a short course . The premise is whole foods with a “whole lifestyle’ equals good health. If you would like to change other aspects of your life that a qualified busy professional may not have time for, and use common sense, these are the folk for you.
* Chiropractors - Their training includes nutritional modules, although not as long or detailed as those done by RDs. The nutritional inputs are based on correcting "cellular defects from our eating habits and lifestyles". Generally you are required to take supplements sold by them to correct the nutritional deficiencies.
Other mostly questionable Nutritionist titles include:
CN- Certified Nutritionist ( in New York State CN is a protected title)
CCN - Certified Clinical Nutritionist, usually do a six-course "distance learning program"
CNC - Certified Nutritional Consultant, obtained with an open-book test with The American Association of Nutritional Consultants CNS -Certified Nutrition Specialist
CNE - certified Nutrition Educator
CNT - certified Nutritionist Therapist
Health coaches/counselors - often include nutritional advice and may or may not have good qualifications
The above list of nutritionistd typically they will give you lots of time and attention to raise your health awareness.
Remember, losing excess weight combined with regular physical activity and stress reduction relieves many symptoms!
The institutes and organizations that bestow questionable titles are:
IAACN - International & American Association of Clinical Nutritionists offers the CNC title
AHSU-American Health Science University offers the CN title
SCN- The Society of Certified Nutritionists, established in 1985, has nutritionists titles as CCN, CN, and CNCs. This membership should be regarded as a sign of poor judgment.
Institute of Integrative Nutrition, NYC suggests various titles (e.g. HHN, Medicina nutritionistl...) and teaches marketing
AANC-American Association of Nutritional Consultants offers the title CNC
ACN/CAN-The American College of Nutrition offers the CBNS and CNS titles
NANP-The National Association of Nutrition Professionals (was the Society of Certified Nutritionists in 1985) states its mission is to promote the integrity of the holistic nutrition profession through self-governance for the titles CN, CNC, CNE and CNT.
The CNBC -the Clinical Nutrition Board, provide credentialing to nutrition professionals who might not be eligible to become registered dietitians. Although some members are qualified and practice appropriately, both CNCB and its sponsoring organization (the International American Associations of Clinical Nutrition) include promoters of highly dubious practices among their leaders. They love giving supplements but are quick to scorn doctors for giving out too many medicines!
One pointer to help you avoid bad nutrition advice:
Descriptions makes no sense.
For example the NANP says:
1. Nutritional biochemists (CNS, Ph.D., MDs) are primarily researchers and scientists
2.
Medical nutrition practitioners (RDs, MDs) follow prescribed and established treatment protocols based on a diagnosis of disease. Difference between medical and number clinical is??
3.
Clinical nutritionists (MDs, DCs, CCNs) emphasize nutritional supplement protocols (applying nutrition to a medical model of treating disease) = Similar to the folk at the local vitamin store??
4.
Holistically-trained nutritionists (NANP members) use education as a primary tool and emphasize building health through the use of whole foods - How do they know that others do not use "whole foods" ??
Other pointers:
- Anyone who does not address your food choices as the initial step
- Anyone who has not had a mentored long internship to learn good practice application
- Anyone who suggests that most diseases are caused by faulty nutrition.
- Anyone who suggests that large doses of vitamins are effective against a large number of symptoms
- Anyone who uses hair analysis as a basis for determining the body's nutritional state. Hair analysis is not reliable
- Anyone who claims that "hidden food allergies" cause a wide range of diseases /symptoms
- Anyone who uses a computer-scored "nutrient deficiency test" to prescribe supplements
- Anyone who states the majority of our food is toxic and causes you anxiety on what to consume
- Considering nutrition is a young science - anyone who is NOT required to keep their knowledge updated by a legitimate board with academic members (not just one or two members).
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