The importance of adequate nutrition to the human body is undeniable, given that all growth processes and maintenance of bodily functions are dependent on these sources of fuel. With the wide range of foods available to us, making an informed choice about what we eat is not always straightforward. Nutritionists are trained to help us make the right dietary choices, through an intimate knowledge of the nutritional value of foods, and how they can help us grow or prevent the onset of disease.
The Role Of Nutritionists
A nutritionist is a person who practices nutrition, the process of providing nutrients to the cells in the body to promote health. Nutritionists apply their knowledge of nutrition and dietetics to develop or improve nutrition programs for individuals, communities and institutions like schools, rehabilitation centres and aged care facilities.
Nutrition consultants provide nutritional advice and education to clients, assisting them in making healthier food choices and understanding how what they eat impacts their health and wellbeing. In providing dietary advice, they take into consideration the client's age, gender, lifestyle and medical condition.
Using their knowledge of nutrition sciences, nutritionists help the body to heal itself through a healthy diet that is packed with the essential vitamins and minerals, as well as supports the body's natural detoxification process. They are also able to correct any mineral or vitamin deficiencies with the use of carefully chosen supplements. If there are deficiencies resulting from dietary factors, then a number of conditions may arise, which may manifest themselves as:
- Frequent illnesses
- Fatigue
- Impaired cardiovascular health
- Reduced bone health and density
- Obesity
Nutritionists work in a variety of settings that allow them to pursue different careers in nutrition, including the public health sector (in government and non-government agencies), community health centres, hospitals, nursing homes and schools; they also have the option of working in private practice.
Becoming A Nutritionist
The benefits of studying nutrition include gaining knowledge on nutrition and how to apply it, developing communication skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, improving career opportunities and earning a higher income.
Nutrition courses teach students about nutritional science and often comprise biology, chemistry and mathematics. These programs give students knowledge and skills needed to prepare and interpret food-related reports, investigate food manufacturing processes and perform calculations of calories and nutrients. Courses can also provide nutrition counselling skills, such as discussion and communication techniques which nutritionists require in their work.
An introductory course in nutrition will typically give an overview of all the different food types, the workings of the digestive system, metabolism of food in the body, food labelling and additives as well as food safety to name some. In this short training program, non-professionals and healthcare professionals will learn the mechanics of food as medicine.
Obtaining a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics is a great option if you want to go beyond the basic science of food and get involved with clinical nutrition, especially for weight management, sports nutrition and public health nutrition. Apart from classroom lectures, this university program provides hands-on experience through a clinical placement. Upon completion of this program, you can also receive advanced standing towards a graduate degree in dietetics, as well as many career opportunities.
Career Options For Nutritionists
Nutritionists can be employed as private consultants, sports nutritionists or clinical nutritionists. Some nutrition and dietetics students are personal trainers by profession. They can incorporate their knowledge from school into their practice to pursue a career as a nutrition coach, while others prefer to become a nutrition researcher or specialise in nutrition counseling.
A degree in nutrition can also land you a career in the public health system, in the food service industry, or in sports organisations and corporations. Other nutrition professionals go onto further specialisation in the field – with paediatric and geriatric nutrition being two possible options. Advancing your career further generally requires an undergraduate degree in nutrition.
Check out our course listings page to understand more about the field of nutrition or discover course providers in Australia that match your goals, interests, and budget.
Originally published on Jan 10, 2011
