nutrition

Proper nutrition, along with exercise, is absolutely fundamental to everyone’s health. Concerns from appropriate caloric intake to ensuring that required nutrients are ingested on a daily basis can have a huge impact on physical as well as psychological and emotional health.

Registered dietitians are counselors trained in proper nutrition. They are University-educated and licensed by the government, which requires both the appropriate degree and a set amount of practical experience. Dietitians approach nutrition from a community health as well as an individual perspective, studying trends in good and bad diet and making recommendations based on the latest science. A qualified dietitian should be consulted if poor nutrition may be a concern, or if you are considering embarking on a diet or a new exercise program.

Nutritional consultants take a different approach to nutrition than dietitians. While dietitians generally follow standard science, as partially expressed in the Canada Food Guide, nutritional consultants see nutrition from a more holistic perspective. They are usually practitioners of other therapies such as chiropractic or herbalism. They take into account a large number of factors including environmental factors or contaminants, allergies, and often also the results of an iridological exam. Based on this information, they recommend dietary changes or supplements that may include whole, natural foods, various vitamin or herbal supplements, or more specialized dietary programs such as a macrobiotic diet believed to be effective against cancer.

Since nutritional consultants are not regulated in Canada, caution should be taken and the credentials and experience of a consultant confirmed.

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