Why Should I See a Registered Dietitian (RD)?
Should I start cooking mainly with coconut oil to improve my health? Are those supplements I saw on TV worth buying? How can I manage my high blood sugar without completely giving up the foods I like? We are all confronted with nutrition-related conundrums regularly, and navigating the health information we are exposed to through social media, television, and online sources can pose quite the challenge. With so much conflicting health information around us, making a decision on what recommendations to follow can be a confusing and frustrating process for us all.
Staying on top of evolving nutrition science and being a savvy and informed consumer takes time and a critical eye. Taking carefully-crafted marketing claims on food packages and the reviews of sponsored social media influencers at face value doesn’t always lead us towards better health, no matter how healthy the product is made to look! Luckily, there is a group of health professionals who are trained to look carefully at nutrition science, trends, and food marketing, that can support you in making nutrition-related decisions that fit your unique needs and preferences….
….They are called Registered Dietitians!
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are sources of credible nutrition information who can work with you to address your unique needs and set goals that are safe, attainable, and make sense for you. Dietitians have expertise in evaluating and translating nutrition research into language that is understandable and useful to the general public. They can support you in learning to debunk product and diet health claims, and offer coaching and recommendations on healthy eating patterns that are enjoyable and sustainable for you.
Dietitians are registered professionals who are overseen by a regulatory body. In the province of Ontario, the College of Dietitians of Ontario (CDO) outlines a minimum standard of practice that all RDs must meet when practicing dietetics. The college also ensures RDs continually complete self-directed learning goals in order to stay on top of the latest health science and guidelines. The college works in the interest of the public by monitoring the way RDs can practice so that their approaches and recommendations are evidence-based.
Nutrition often plays an important part in preventing and managing chronic diseases, and promoting overall health and wellbeing, and so it’s no surprise that there is a plethora of diets, food products and supplements trying to catch your eye and dollar. Whether you are managing a chronic illness, a picky eater in the family, or just looking for safe and effective advice on general healthy eating, a Registered Dietitian can support you and your family’s health journey.
By: Pauline Bakowski, MHSc, RD
Reviewed by: Cheryl Ching, MSc, RD & Kristie Pun, MHSc, RD
Disclaimer: our blog content is for general education purposes and may not be suitable for individual health conditions. Please see your health professional for personalized health recommendations.
