Are you wondering what the difference is between a dietitian and a nutritionist? Then read on for this article is going to help you understand the difference.
What does a Dietitian do?
A dietitian evaluates the food intake of a patient according to the necessary nutrients and vitamins required by the body. They are well versed in their field, which aids them in prescribing diets for different diseases and even nutritional supplements if needed. The primary function of a dietician is to recommend healthy meals. A good dietician should be able to reduce obesity and also control blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other preventable diseases.
What does a nutritionist do?
On the other hand, a nutritionist is a well-versed dietician who has a specialization to help people suffering from eating disorders like obesity, anorexia, bulimia, etc. They offer various solutions to aid in weight loss and advise a healthy lifestyle. For example, how to prevent heart attack naturally through diet modifications. Nutritionists diagnose and find out the root cause of eating disorders.
A nutritionist needs to know what foods are rich in nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. He also needs to understand diet plans suitable for all age groups starting from pregnancy, infancy, pre-school age group, school-going children, and adults.
Additionally, a good nutritionist needs to know which diet plans are suitable for helping people lose weight. He should be able to find out the nutritional content present in food items and living organisms and their root cause of deficiency diseases. A nutritionist also needs to check for toxic and dangerous food additives like hydrogenated vegetable oil and sodium lauryl sulfate.
A Heart Nutritionist in Denver says that other functions help individuals move from one diet plan to another according to their age groups. A nutritionist can also weigh an individual’s present food consumption pattern with what he actually needs through a process called “nutritional assessment.” Finally, a good nutritionist is aware of the technological advancements in the food industry and can give you advice on how to use it for your benefits, such as microwave ovens, deep freezers, and juicers.
Dietitian vs. Nutritionist
Dietitians and nutritionists are on the same career path, but they aren’t quite interchangeable. For example, dieticians have more regulation than a nutritionist because of their educational background – dietician’s need to go through an accredited university whereas nutritional degrees can be obtained with any degree level or social work experience without getting licensed by-passing exams from regulatory bodies like Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). In addition, the roles differ in that while both study food, diets, and nutrients, dieticians focus on developing plans for nutritious meals according to the advice given by medical professionals such as doctors who specialize in weight loss.
