A holistic nutritionist is a professional who advises clients how to eat a diet that incorporates nutritious foods and advocates cutting out processed ones. This means that he will be able to guide you to develop a diet that includes more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while you cut out packaged snacks and processed meats. If you are interested in becoming a holistic nutritionist, there are several things you will need to do in preparation.
Step 1
Find a school that offers a program that will train you in holistic nutrition. How you want to use your degree will determine how long you will need to study. Simply advising others how to change their diet is going to take much less time than if you plan to teach the subject. Investigate several options so that you are able to make the right choice for you. Some may offer online learning while others will require in class attendance.
Step 2
Complete the coursework required. This will generally involve learning more about human nutrition, diet therapies and detoxification of the body. You will learn how to advise clients about health concerns like eating disorders, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and skin problems using these areas of study. You will practice adjusting the diet of people with these concerns to help treat the problems and the symptoms associated with them.
Step 3
Get certified. While not all states require this, having a certificate to practice as a holistic nutritionist establishes your credibility and lets clients know you are knowledgeable about the subject. Becoming certified requires taking and passing an exam. Once you have done this, you will be given a certificate that recognizes you as holistic nutritionist by the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board. Having this certificate allows you to document your education and keep up with advances in the field.
Step 4
Choose a job that is compatabile with your skills. You can set up your own practice, which allows you to choose your own schedule and decide the health conditions you would like to focus on. You can also choose to teach others who want to learn about the field. Some people will choose to do a little bit of both.
Tips and Warnings
- A study guide to help you prepare for the certification exam is available from the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. It costs $30 plus $3.95 for shipping.
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