First and foremost, what is a clinical nutritionist?
A clinical nutritionist represents the gold standard for the advanced clinical nutrition practitioner. Rigorous academic, supervised experience, and examination and containing education requirements are met. They are credentialed by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) and obtain the premiere clinical nutrition credential, fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Most importantly, they are trained professionals that apply the latest nutrition science to the complexity of human health and function by performing advanced medical nutrition therapy -individualized nutrition assessment, evaluation, intervention and monitoring -to prevent and improve health conditions.
Now, 5 Reasons You Should Have a Clinical Nutritionist as Part of Your Health-Care Team:
1.) COACHING
Think of your CN as your coach.
What do coaches do exactly? Well, part of their role is to educate and teach important concepts, but there’s so much more! Coaches provide accountability, systemization, feedback and encouragement. Your coach meets you where you are and sequences all the pieces together for you to progress further.
Guidance through each stage of the process, with a little pat on the back when you need it, makes the student much more successful.
Even the best athletes, business-women (or men), artists and musicians in the world still have coaches. A shoulder to lean on and a support system are vital to continued success.
Your CN is your nutrition and lifestyle coach. Hire one if you want not just the “what to do,” but “how to do it.”
2.) QUICKER RESULTS
Save yourself the time, money and energy of trial-and-error and instead hire a CN.
Your CN is not only formally trained in this stuff, but continues her/his education over the years to maintain the credential. Let your CN attend webinars and conferences and read the research, news, and latest reports so you can focus on your own specialty.
CNs have thousands of practice hours working with all kinds of patients/clients. Through that experience, your CN will know the best way to proceed with meeting your health needs.
Now you could place your trust in “Doctor Google,” but you may end up right back where you started, or even worse off! Get the quicker results you’re after by working with a trained nutrition professional.
3.) AVOID THE BS
I hate to burst your bubble if you aren’t already aware of this, but not everything we read and hear is true! ESPECIALLY in the world of nutrition.
Often, the sexier and catchier a headline sounds, the less likely it is to be true. With this in mind, it’s so easy to fall for “the next best thing” that sounds legit, when in all actuality it’s complete B.S.
Rather, work with a college-educated, credentialed professional who has your best interest in mind. If that’s not enough to convince you, all CNs are required by our commissioning body to take ethics courses (as most professions do) to maintain the credential.
Boiling it down, you can trust your CN to steer you towards evidence-based nutrition advice.
4.) PERSONALIZATION
We are all unique snowflakes…
But really, we are.
Sometimes recommendations can be generalized for certain populations, but ultimately nutrition does need to be tailored for the individual.
Group programs and online courses are great for getting a standard approach, but for optimal results it’s best to work one-on-one with a CN who can tweak the nutrition plan for you and your GOALS.
5.) LOW RISK HIGH REWARD
Last but not least, hiring a CN and following a nutrition program is a low-risk, high-reward intervention.
If you’re suffering from a chronic medical condition, 99% of the time nutrition can make a HUGE difference in your outcomes. Mandy diseases like heart disease, diabetes and obesity can even be completely reversed with proper nutrition. The reward is too high not to give it a try.
Also, the risk is low. Changing up your nutrition (for the better) can stand to help us all. On the other hand, medications and surgeries are higher risk yet often the first line treatment for many conditions.
To sum it up, you only stand to benefit by following a nutrition program run by a CN.