Clinical Nutrition
Clinical Nutrition is a term used to describe a Nutritional Medicine Practitioner who is not a Dietitian. Dietitians practice and are trained in a specific type of nutrition called ‘dietetics’ and are often also referred to as nutritionists, but many nutritionists are not dietitians and they don’t necessarily hold a qualification in nutrition.
Clinical Nutritionists are bachelor degree trained, clinical healthcare professionals who will typically advertise they belong to a professional association body such as the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.
A Clinical Nutritionist takes a wholistic, evidence based approach to healing and seeks to address the root cause of the issue. They can work in either the prevention or management of chronic health conditions. Clinical Nutritionists conduct detailed assessments of individual needs through a combination of extensive case history analysis, physical assessments, biochemical laboratory testing and/or they may also recommend referrals to other health professionals, if they feel this is necessary.
Based on these assessments, a Clinical Nutritionist can:
- provide their clients with health advice including nutritional and lifestyle recommendations;
- conduct physical and laboratory testing and analysis;
- prescribe a range of nutraceuticals at therapeutic doses, if and when appropriate.
A key aspect of a Clinical Nutritionist's role is to empower individuals with a deeper understanding of their bodies and how they function. By providing insights into personal health, Clinical Nutritionists not only help clients develop their own insights, but also grasp the rationale behind those insights, fostering a more informed, empowered approach to their own individual health journey.