Health insurance companies and state departments of licensing for healthcare providers require a credentialing process where healthcare professionals must prove their education, training and continuing education requirements before the provider is deemed “legitimate” to practice. But if you pay cash and do not use or have health insurance, the nutrition professional you are seeing may or may not be qualified. Until we have a national standard for the term “nutritionist,” just about anyone in most states can set up a practice and advertise – so ask about education, training and experience before making that first appointment! Take a look at some of the training and you would be shocked! Do you really want to be seeking advice from someone with less than a year of training after high school? Just do an internet search for nutritionist training programs and prepare to be amazed.
The “Registered Dietitian “(RD) credential is the minimal standard that most insurance companies, hospitals, long-term care and school districts require. Why should you even care? Because everyone needs to see a qualified nutritionist at least 2 times a year. Why is seeing a qualified nutritionist necessary? Because 8 of the top 10 diseases in the US have a connection to food and lifestyle. And prevention and wellness guidance from a qualified nutrition consultant is so much cheaper than disease interventions.
Can you imagine if there were no national standards for the education and training of physicians and nurses? Do doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals other than nutritionists really have the time and expertise to be the sole providers of nutrition advise? Most of the time they are. It’s about time that the extensive education, training and continuing education requirements of legitimate nutrition professionals are recognized and appreciated. But does anyone besides me really care?
My friends were surprised when I told them I was seeing a Licensed Nutritionist in Seattle. I consider myself to be very healthy for a woman whose about to turn 49 years old and who can fool most people into thinking I’m in my mid thirties. My last physical detected a slight mineral deficiency in iron but it was the bone density scan that proved to be quite revealing. I’m in the early stages of Osteoporosis.
I’m fortunate to have caught this in time so I can turn it around with good nutrition, vitamin supplements and exercise. Personally I would not trust my health to someone without Beverly Kindblade’s extensive education and nutritional experience.
She did a thorough study of my diet, and over all health and discovered that I’m seriously lacking in Vitamin D among a couple other things like “essential fatty acids” that are vital for good health.
So, to answer her question, Does anyone care if a Nutritionist has the credentials that qualify them to determine your health needs? My answer is YES, I care!