Why is nutrition important? The food you eat has a significant impact on your body and mind. Having good nutrition can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and promote overall health. Unfortunately, with nutrition information coming from every direction, it often seems like a food is good for you one day but reported as unhealthy the next. It’s easy to get confused about what is nutritious and what is not.
What is a registered dietitian nutritionist? A registered dietitian nutritionist or RDN is a food and nutrition expert who has met academic and professional requirements including:
- Earned a bachelor’s degree with coursework approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Coursework typically includes food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.
- Completed an accredited supervised practice program at a health care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation.
- Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
- Completes continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration on an ongoing basis.
A RDN has the expertise, training and credentials to provide you with the necessary information to promote positive lifestyle choices. After learning about your health history, favorite foods, eating, and exercise habits, a RDN will help you set small goals to get you to your long term goal of overall health. A RDN translates evidence-based nutrition science into practical solutions for healthy living. They can help you sort through nutrition misinformation and provide sound, easy-to-follow nutrition advice. A RDN will uniquely combine behavior and habit changes to your life, which will help you make personalized and positive lifestyle changes. A RDN can also help specifically with the management of chronic diseases through medical nutrition therapy. They can review your lab results, help you understand your condition and provide education about the nutrients that affect it. Creating nutritional changes takes patience, practice, and trustworthy professional guidance. A RDN can be that support to allow you to set goals to achieve your desired results.