Guest Contributor Alyssa Lavy: Why Work With A Dietitian?
If you open your email, watch the news, or even open social media, chances are, you will see a lot of conflicting nutrition advice. How can you tell if the content you’re consuming is legitimate? I’m a registered dietitian and, in this guest post, I’m digging into:
1) how to spot credible nutrition information (as well as fake news)
2) who is qualified to share nutrition information (and who is not)
3) why general nutrition information can only take you so far
How To Spot Credible Nutrition Information
It seems like everyone has an opinion about nutrition these days. I get it – everyone eats, so everyone feels like they need to share what works for them and what doesn’t. Sometimes this is well intentioned –and sometimes it is not. Either way, you can’t believe everything you read. And – just because something worked for Suzie, doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best advice for you.
One way to spot credible nutrition information is by simply using some common sense – this seems like a no brainer, but it’s something that we tend to forget when we see headlines and posts made for shock value. Generally speaking, nutrition is almost never black and white – it’s like a giant gray area! I always joke around that the most consistent (and most frustrating) answer in nutrition is, “it depends”. This means that the more polarizing a nutrition statement is, the less credible it is likely to be. If you hear someone say things like, “you should never eat these foods” – that’s your clue that this advice is likely not backed in science. Similarly, anything that seems restrictive and unsustainable is just that – and likely not credible. I always ask clients to consider the diet they are asking about and think about whether they could eat like that consistently for the next month, year, 5 years, etc. If not, then that is not the diet for you. Of course, there are some instances when we need to discuss a medical diet (such as a gluten free diet for celiac disease or a low FODMAP diet for IBS). However, in these cases, the goal is always to provide the most liberalized diet possible and keep elimination phases short (when applicable) with a plan to reintroduce and challenge foods in order to broaden the diet and ultimately improve quality of life. In these examples, a person with celiac disease cannot ever eat gluten-containing foods – but they sometimes eliminate additional foods at first for symptom management (such as lactose-containing foods, oats and even FODMAP sources) which can often be reincorporated once the gut has healed. Those with IBS can typically reincorporate many of the previously eliminated foods through a dietitian-guided, systematic reintroduction process. But, I digress. In the absence of a need for a medical diet, restrictive diets for weight management (often guised under the halo of “health”) are not typically recommended. Furthermore, if you see outrageous claims and guidelines (I’m looking at you, carnivore diet), you can definitely keep moving (and by that, I mean run far away). Lastly, make sure to check the credentials of the person who is giving you this information. More on that below!
Who Is Qualified to Share Nutrition Information
So, now that you have a better understanding of how to spot credible nutrition information (and how to better identify fake news), let’s chat about who is actually qualified to share nutrition information. In other words, who is a true nutrition expert? Is it a doctor? Is it a nutritionist?Registered Dietitians (RDs, also called Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, or RDNs) are the true nutrition experts. Registered Dietitians are required to have a taken a specific set of courses in fields like natural sciences (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology), psychology, counseling and, of course, nutrition (otherwise known as DPD – or didactic program in dietetics) through an accredited program, earn a bachelor’s in a related field, complete 1200+ hours of supervised practice is a variety of clinical, community, food service and elective settings after matching with an internship program, pass the RD exam, obtain (and maintain) licensure/certification according the state(s) in which they practice and complete continuing education. Recently, a Master’s requirement was also added. Needless to say, RDs need to really know their *stuff*. While other healthcare professionals may have a special interest in nutrition and may have even completed some trainings and certifications, this does not mean they are nutrition experts (just like how a dietitian isn’t a doctor, or a nurse, or a dentist). These trainings are not standardized or accredited, do not often require continuing education (which is essential for constantly challenging bias, beliefs and understanding the current science) and I would be shocked to find any one certification that provides equivalent training even close to those with a RD. All that to say, I would be very cautious taking nutrition advice from anyone who is not actually qualified to provide it.
What about nutritionists? That’s a trick question – the term “nutritionist” is actually not regulated. This means that, technically, you could call yourself a “nutritionist” if you wanted. While all dietitians are technically nutritionists, not all nutritionists are dietitians. Sure, credentials don’t mean everything, but they’re certainly a good starting point when you’re trying to assess the credibility of your source!
Why General Nutrition Information Can Only Take You So Far
Now that you know who to trust when it comes to nutrition advice, let’s chat quickly about general nutrition information. As a dietitian who works with private clients and groups, as well as with media, brands and corporations, I can speak to the nuances of each client. When it comes to nutrition communications and media work, the information simply needs to be generalized since it is meant for the masses – not the individual. This doesn’t mean that it is bad advice – far from it! As a dietitian who works with media, brands and corporations, I take complex, nuanced nutrition science and I break it down into digestible (no pun intended) soundbites so it can have a large impact. However, this does not – and simply cannot –apply to each of your individual needs. This is where meeting with a dietitian as part of a group with a similar goal, or as a private 1:1 client, can be beneficial. While I think most people would benefit from meeting with a dietitian, I can also understand that the time and financial investment is not always available or may not be a priority for some people. There are lots of options when it comes to working with a dietitian – including insurance, HSA/FSA, out of pocket, group coaching, online programs and traditional 1:1 work. If you’re curious about which providers are covered through your insurance, you can contact your insurance company and ask for a list of in network dietitians. If you prefer to work with someone who has a particular specialty, regardless of whether or not they are in your network, you can find a dietitian using the “Find An Expert” tool on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, connecting with a RD on social media who you resonate with, do a Google search or ask your doctor if they know of a dietitian they can refer you to. If you do not have any significant health conditions or nutrition-related concerns, general nutrition information is likely to be just fine – just make sure you are getting it from a trustworthy source, stay skeptical and understand that nutrition science is always evolving. It is, after all, a science and we are always learning new things! If you are interested in working with a dietitian, you can take the steps above to find a good fit or feel free to contact me if you would like to work together in my practice.
Alyssa Lavy, MS, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and personal trainer, mom of 2 (and a dog mom) who specializes in simplifying nutrition for busy individuals, improving food relationships and gut health. She practices with an all foods fit (as tolerated), weight-inclusive approach. Within her private practice, Alyssa works with individual clients providing nutrition counseling, as well as leading group coaching through her Trust Your Gut virtual program and community for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) management. Alyssa also works with media, brands and corporations to develop wellness programs, share nutrition communications and offer nutrition and brand consulting and strategy.
Alyssa has contributed to national media outlets, such as Women's Health, Men's Health, Reader's Digest, Huffington Post, Cooking Light, Shape and more and she also provides recipes and nutrition-related news on her blog, which can be found on her website. Alyssa also shares practical nutrition tips and recipes on her Instagram.
For all inquiries, you can contact Alyssa at hello@alyssalavy.com. **For the month of April (IBS Awareness Month), Alyssa is offering $500 off her Trust Your Gut virtual program and community using the promo code IBSAWARENESS500 (valid through 4/30/2024, must be entered and applied at checkout). You can register using this link or book a discovery call with Alyssa if you would like to learn more about practice offerings. **
