Responsibilities of a Holistic Nutritionist

Holistic Nutrition

The concept of holistic nutrition has evolved in relatively recent times. The sedentary lifestyle adopted by people coupled with unhealthy eating habits, consumption of processed foods on a large scale and the prevalent use of pesticides and chemicals in the manufacturing of foods has given rise to many forms of ill health. Thus there is a growing need for practices that help in uplifting the overall well-being among people across different cross-sections of society.

Holistic nutrition was conceptualized around the philosophy that optimum health and well-being of individuals is a direct result of the overall synchronization between the various components of one’s health including physical, chemical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental aspects. Thus, holistic nutrition approaches the health and well-being of a person from a totally different perspective. The use of organically grown foods as opposed to genetically modified organisms or GMOs and artificially produced foods is advocated. This is done to ensure higher levels of stamina and restoration of optimal health. A holistic diet is also aimed at uplifting moods and maintaining a better quality of life.

Roles and responsibilities of a holistic nutritionist

A holistic nutritionist studies the lifestyle and health attributes of an individual carefully and in-depth before formulating a personalized diet plan with a focus on an improved diet, better lifestyle, and refinement of attitudes towards adopting and maintaining better practices.

Broadly, the functions of a holistic nutritionist can be summarized as below:

1. Suggesting a tailor-made diet plan: Based on the choices and preferences of individuals and taking into account his health, an improved diet plan is made and suggested.
2. Suggestions on a better lifestyle model: A complete diet plan is one that ensures a long term correction of the correct dietary choices and better lifestyle modifications. An individual is counseled accordingly.
3. Advising people on better weight management plans: It is important to set practical and attainable weight management goals that are sustainable over the long-term instead of goals that fizzle out after short periods. An encouraging and logical model is suggested by a good holistic nutritionist.
4. Impart information on wellness and holistic nutrition: Classes and workshops may be offered by a holistic nutritionist to educate people on how to improve their lifestyle and achieve a better quality of life that will move them towards a life of improved moods and better energy levels while maintaining optimal body weight.
5. Restorative suggestions: Specific suggestions may be given in order to restore optimal health. These include menu guidelines, monitoring and tracking health, review of assessments and providing appropriate recommendations.

Thus, the role of a holistic nutritionist is highly specialized and, although practitioners are not government regulated, there are professional organizations that set high standards of education and ethics such as the Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals, the Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Practitioners, and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. When seeking education in the field of holistic nutrition, look for a school whose curriculum meets the standards of one or more of these organizations.