By Sheer Balance / Divine Caroline
Let’s face it, none of us are the same. And when it comes to nutrition, what may work for your best friend may very well pack on ten extra pounds for you. Some of us need more protein than others. Some of us may need more grains. There really isn’t a universal prescription for a healthy diet. So, why should you settle for one? Good news … you don’t have to.
For the last fifteen years, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition has been educating and graduating individuals as certified Health Counselors who go on to teach about food and health with a holistic perspective and approach.
The Specifics
Dietitians and Nutritionists: Associated with the formal American establishment of food and health experts, The American Dietetic Association (ADA) describes Registered Dietitians (RDs) as food and nutrition experts who meet minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the credential RD. They hold a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, nutrition sciences or dietetics and have advanced training and licensing. Nutritionists, on the other hand, do not need advanced degrees or ADA testing. In fact, there is no oversight or regulation of who can use the term nutritionist.
The Health Counselor: The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City is the largest nutrition school in the world. Students receive a comprehensive education featuring world-renowned authorities on health and nutrition, including Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Andrew Weil. Students graduate as certified Health Counselors. “Health Counselors have a holistic approach that focuses on creating a supportive environment for the individual, rather than diets and counting calories,” says Joshua Rosenthal, founder of Integrative Nutrition. “No one diet works for everyone, so we work with clients to make diet and lifestyle recommendations that are tailored to the individual. We teach our students to show their clients how to make small, gradual changes to improve their health. We focus on cultivating lifelong health and wellness, rather than a quick fix.”
Move over Food Pyramid: “Dietitians and nutritionists rely on the ADA food pyramid—a political document that is influenced by the food lobbies, including big dairy, big beef, and big sugar,” says Rosenthal. “People are surprised to learn that fact sheets on the ADA Web site are sponsored by corporations …” Although the ADA gets people to think about food and health, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition is the only nutrition school integrating more than 100 different dietary theories and combining the wisdom of traditional philosophies and modern concepts into their curriculum. The pros and cons of various dietary theories are analyzed and students learn which foods best support an individual’s health based on their unique dietary needs.
“We need more people talking about importance of daily diet and lifestyle—that is the most important factor in creating health and warding off disease and illness in the future,” Rosenthal says. “By making smarter choices with food and being physically active, we will reduce medical costs in the future. Most medical professionals don’t have an hour to sit and talk with someone about their health or lifestyle goals. Our work fills the void.”