Aside from being able to complete traditional degrees online, like accounting, human resources management, and data science, you can also take up specialized courses. One of these is clinical nutrition, which is the study of the patients’ nutrition and diet.
The primary objective of clinical nutrition is to check whether an individual is consuming enough nutrients for the proper function of their body. In this course, you’ll learn how food is processed, stored, and discarded as well as how it nourishes your body.
Not only are you able to take up a bachelor’s degree in clinical nutrition online, but you can also enroll for a master’s program for a more comprehensive study. Check out this website to read more about the requirements and curriculum.
If you’re interested in gaining knowledge about this field, here are the benefits of studying clinical nutrition courses online:
More Career Opportunities
With more people being conscious about what they eat and the nutrients that they consume, a degree in clinical nutrition has become valuable, even outside the medical field. Most nutritionists work in hospitals and clinics to provide support to patients, but you also have the option to apply for jobs in other industries.
Nutritionists are valuable resources in the food manufacturing industry because they ensure that these companies uphold food regulation standards. You’ll be helping businesses develop their products through research, as well as explaining your findings in layman’s terms so that other departments can understand the nutritional value of each merchandise.
You can also work for the government by being employed in community settings, such as public schools. You’ll be responsible for assessing the nutrition that students gain from school lunches and develop related policies to improve the nutrients they take in.
Another career path is to become a professor and impart your knowledge about clinical nutrition. You can also perform research while working in universities and colleges.
You’ll still need to apply for a license to be able to practice as a clinical nutritionist. Depending on the state you’re in, you may be required to comply with additional state registrations or certifications.
A lot of employers prefer candidates who have credentials, like the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) registration or the Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) certification.
Competitive Salary
According to Glassdoor’s analysis, the average base pay of clinical nutritionists in the US is about 51,000 USD annually. On top of this figure, there’s the possibility of receiving additional cash compensation between the range of 281 USD to 2,513 USD, with an average of 847 USD.
Factors such as educational background and industry experience influence compensation. Your credentials can also affect how much you earn because these registrations and certifications increase your credibility as a nutritionist.
Help Others Eat Better
Regardless of where you work, your primary role is to help your patients or clients eat better. As mentioned, you’ll be educating them about how food is processed by their bodies and why they should pay more attention to what they consume.
If you’re working in a private company or running your clinic, you’ll often be customizing meal plans to accommodate your clients’ lifestyle and dietary needs. For larger institutions and settings, you’ll be handling the creation of general guidelines and policies to improve the eating habits of more people at once.
A typical nutritionist’s day involves tracking and recording the nutrition gained by a patient through their diet. Reporting is also a crucial part of your responsibilities if you pursue this profession.
Teach About Health
Other than creating customized menus for your patients, you should also educate them about health and how the food they consume affects their bodies. It’s the same principle of giving someone a fish and feeding them for just a day or teaching them to fish and nourishing them for a lifetime.
In the same way, educating your clients is better than merely providing them with a meal plan that they should follow. Teaching them about the nutrients their body needs can help them make the right diet choices on their own.
Improve Your Diet
Lastly, studying clinical nutrition online is a convenient way to improve your own diet. Immersing yourself in learning about your body and the nourishment it needs to function properly can motivate you to commit to eating healthy food.
You’ve got to practice what you preach because potential patients and clients will be looking at your physique to evaluate your effectiveness as a nutritionist; put that knowledge to good use with your body first.
Some tips on how to improve your diet include:
- Tracking How Much You Consume – Avoiding eating more than the energy you expend, even if you have a relatively active lifestyle.
Use apps or other programs to monitor how much you consume in a day and work with that information when creating your weekly diet plan.
- Have A Variety of Food – Most people stick to one or two food groups, proteins, and carbohydrates, especially for those who have busy lifestyles.
One trick is to follow the colors of the rainbow and fill your plate with a variety of food for each hue.
- Eating More Vegetables and Fruits – Consuming more vegetables, particularly the green leafy ones, and fruits can bring in more fiber to your body. This allows for a better bowel movement and a higher energy boost without the crash that typically accompanies a sugar rush.
- Reducing Fat, Sugar, and Salt Intake – Avoid eating high-fat or high-sodium food or desserts that have high sugar content. Of course, you shouldn’t completely ban these out of your life, but, remember, moderation is key.
- Staying Hydrated – Make sure to drink lots of water every day to replenish the fluids you lose in doing various activities. Stick to consuming pure water, not flavored nor carbonated ones – these may have sugar in them.
Conclusion
Clinical nutrition is the study of nutrients and how these are used by the human body. Completing this course enables you to find career opportunities for yourself in the medical field as well as other industries like food manufacturing. Plus, this profession typically pays well.
Aside from the competitive salary, you also get to help others eat better by educating them on the food that they should be consuming. Moreover, you improve your diet as well by practicing what you preach.
