I feel compelled to share an article (below) from the Chicago Tribune. Bottom line? A human, with credentials in Science and a specific curriculum in Nutrition and Health / Fitness as well as experience in the field should be considered. Best option? A dietician and/or nutritionist certified or licensed is preferred. Investigate your "Nutritional Counselors" background before you invest.
Best in Health,
Jim Sayih, MS, CSCS
Nutrition Certificates from:
N.E.S.T.A.
I.S.S.A
Professor, Broward College
Presidents Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, Community Leadership Award Recipient
______________________________________________________________
Chicago Tribune: READ ON...
After spending four miserable days in the hospital with gallstones, Chicago resident Priscilla Dias Hill resolved to improve her eating habits. Rather than working with a licensed dietitian, however, she chose a holistic health coach.
Dias Hill's coach, Chip Allman-Burgard, came to her home and helped cook meals. The two went grocery shopping together. And he taught her how to choose whole, nutrient-rich foods over heavily processed substances
But some say health coaches have no business dishing out that sort of nutrition advice — especially when medical issues may be involved — because they are not licensed by the state of Illinois.
"When (a health coach) takes a client shopping, helps in meal preparation, and then counsels on better meal choices, they are performing the job of a registered dietitian," said Jackie King, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator. Those who are not registered dietitians, she added, "have no better credentials than a neighbor or friend who would do the same thing, except they are profiting from it financially."
Long ignored by medical doctors, the field of nutrition is now recognized as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. As interest grows, registered dietitians have been fighting to protect their turf against an influx of competition from not only health coaches but also pharmacists, acupuncturists, herbalists, chiropractors, personal trainers and bloggers.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a trade group that represents registered dietitians, has been working to ensure that only licensed professionals can legally offer detailed nutrition counseling, both by seeking licensure laws in states that do not have them and by opposing efforts to relax rules elsewhere. To help its state affiliates submit licensure bills, the association developed a Model Practice Act to be used as a blueprint and offered training on effective lobbying strategies.
A 2011 report from the group stressed that licensure was critical because it protected the public from "incompetent, unqualified and unskilled practitioners" and encourages its members to report "incidents of harm." It also noted that dietitians face "a significant competitive threat" as other practitioners expand their services to cover nutrition counseling."
Opponents of restrictive licensure laws accuse the dietetics association of trying to monopolize the field by excluding competition and restricting choice at a time when nutrition professionals are needed more than ever.
"Nutrition isn't an occupation like nursing; it's a tool kit used by doctors, life coaches, dietitians, acupuncturists," said Zina Murray, of Chicago, who used a holistic nutrition expert to restore her health and traveled to Springfield to help lobby legislators for broader licensing laws.
Until recently in Illinois, only registered dietitians could qualify as a "licensed dietitian nutritionist," but in December the law was amended to include certified nutrition specialists and several other groups who undergo extensive training.
The new law, which the Illinois Dietetics Association initially opposed but now says is "pleased" has passed, also offers slightly more protection to those who give general nutrition advice, including acupuncturists and employees of health food stores. Health coaches and other unlicensed practitioners may describe themselves as a "nutritionist" or "nutrition coach," provide broad information and encourage healthy eating choices.
What remains unchanged is that unlicensed individuals may not legally call themselves a "nutrition counselor" or another protected title or advise clients on an individualized basis — such as by developing customized diet regimens.
A license is also required to practice medical nutrition therapy, which involves working with people who are ill or have conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
Though some certifications require more science-based nutrition training than others, there isn't a single group that can claim to have the edge, said Dr. David Miller, a pediatrician and licensed acupuncturist who uses herbs and nutrition counseling in his practice.
"The science of nutrition hasn't been established yet and is, in fact, still a very active area of research," Miller said.
At the same time, Miller said, several overarching nutrition principles seem to be holding up: eating fewer processed foods and emphasizing the Mediterranean-style diet, which includes healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.
"The greatest problem is that the public doesn't have access to enough professionals who can help them understand the basics of healthy eating," said Miller, the director of East-West Integrated Medicine in Chicago.
Best in Health,
Jim Sayih, MS, CSCS
Nutrition Certificates from:
N.E.S.T.A.
I.S.S.A
Professor, Broward College
Presidents Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, Community Leadership Award Recipient
______________________________________________________________
Chicago Tribune: READ ON...
After spending four miserable days in the hospital with gallstones, Chicago resident Priscilla Dias Hill resolved to improve her eating habits. Rather than working with a licensed dietitian, however, she chose a holistic health coach.
Dias Hill's coach, Chip Allman-Burgard, came to her home and helped cook meals. The two went grocery shopping together. And he taught her how to choose whole, nutrient-rich foods over heavily processed substances
But some say health coaches have no business dishing out that sort of nutrition advice — especially when medical issues may be involved — because they are not licensed by the state of Illinois.
"When (a health coach) takes a client shopping, helps in meal preparation, and then counsels on better meal choices, they are performing the job of a registered dietitian," said Jackie King, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator. Those who are not registered dietitians, she added, "have no better credentials than a neighbor or friend who would do the same thing, except they are profiting from it financially."
Long ignored by medical doctors, the field of nutrition is now recognized as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. As interest grows, registered dietitians have been fighting to protect their turf against an influx of competition from not only health coaches but also pharmacists, acupuncturists, herbalists, chiropractors, personal trainers and bloggers.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a trade group that represents registered dietitians, has been working to ensure that only licensed professionals can legally offer detailed nutrition counseling, both by seeking licensure laws in states that do not have them and by opposing efforts to relax rules elsewhere. To help its state affiliates submit licensure bills, the association developed a Model Practice Act to be used as a blueprint and offered training on effective lobbying strategies.
A 2011 report from the group stressed that licensure was critical because it protected the public from "incompetent, unqualified and unskilled practitioners" and encourages its members to report "incidents of harm." It also noted that dietitians face "a significant competitive threat" as other practitioners expand their services to cover nutrition counseling."
Opponents of restrictive licensure laws accuse the dietetics association of trying to monopolize the field by excluding competition and restricting choice at a time when nutrition professionals are needed more than ever.
"Nutrition isn't an occupation like nursing; it's a tool kit used by doctors, life coaches, dietitians, acupuncturists," said Zina Murray, of Chicago, who used a holistic nutrition expert to restore her health and traveled to Springfield to help lobby legislators for broader licensing laws.
Until recently in Illinois, only registered dietitians could qualify as a "licensed dietitian nutritionist," but in December the law was amended to include certified nutrition specialists and several other groups who undergo extensive training.
The new law, which the Illinois Dietetics Association initially opposed but now says is "pleased" has passed, also offers slightly more protection to those who give general nutrition advice, including acupuncturists and employees of health food stores. Health coaches and other unlicensed practitioners may describe themselves as a "nutritionist" or "nutrition coach," provide broad information and encourage healthy eating choices.
What remains unchanged is that unlicensed individuals may not legally call themselves a "nutrition counselor" or another protected title or advise clients on an individualized basis — such as by developing customized diet regimens.
A license is also required to practice medical nutrition therapy, which involves working with people who are ill or have conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
Though some certifications require more science-based nutrition training than others, there isn't a single group that can claim to have the edge, said Dr. David Miller, a pediatrician and licensed acupuncturist who uses herbs and nutrition counseling in his practice.
"The science of nutrition hasn't been established yet and is, in fact, still a very active area of research," Miller said.
At the same time, Miller said, several overarching nutrition principles seem to be holding up: eating fewer processed foods and emphasizing the Mediterranean-style diet, which includes healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.
"The greatest problem is that the public doesn't have access to enough professionals who can help them understand the basics of healthy eating," said Miller, the director of East-West Integrated Medicine in Chicago.
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