How To Become A Nutritionist In India

How To Become A Nutritionist In India

Why one should become an Nutritionist

• You also benefit from embracing your curiosity about food, and being curious about the things you eat, where they come from, and how they are prepared, you can be able to make a significant impact on your health.
  
  People who choose a career as a nutritionist can turn their curiosity into a career that will help others in the long run. 
• A career in nutrition is often inspired by people using their interest in food, and their experiences with nutritionists and
  
  Dietitians who have helped them live a healthier lifestyle, says Sarah Peterson, PhD, RD, LDN, director of the master's program in clinical nutrition at Rush University.
  
  
• In this day and age, nutritionists and dietitians are expected to gain 15 percent jobs between 2016 and 2026 according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
  
  This rate of growth, by far, is much better than most other occupations in the United States.
  
  Increasingly, the demand for nutrition is increasing with the ageing of the baby boomer population and a growing awareness amongst health care providers regarding the necessity of nutrition to prevent and treat disease.
  
  
• Clinical nutrition specialists offer individual advice and custom-made meal plans designed specifically to treat patients suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer due to obesity, or other diseases that are related to obesity.
  
  What they do: They provide individual advice and create customised meal plans.

Types of Nutritionist

The role of a nutritionist is dependent on the location in which he or she works. There are various types of nutritionists, such as:

Clinical nutritionist

Individual nutritional consultations are provided by clinical nutritionists in hospitals and clinics. Their job on healthcare teams is to create and implement meal plans that incorporate advice from doctors and nurses to help patients achieve their health goals.

These professionals typically work in private practices or hospitals.

Gerontological nutritionist

Diet and nutrition in older people are investigated by gerontological nutritionists. Their job is to provide patients and clients with information about how to care for the elderly in hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centres.

Public health nutritionist

Through nutrition classes, workshops, or counselling, public health nutritionists educate the public. People with low incomes or high-risk jobs need healthy lifestyles, so they partner with community organisations or local governments to provide resources.

Also, they can work as public advocates to ensure that government regulations begin to take nutrition into account.

Management nutritionist

In the event that a company or institution will be spending a large sum of money on food, nutritionists will be hired to monitor the process of food production. 

Sports nutritionist

The role of sports nutritionists goes well beyond creating meal plans. They also advise athletes on how to balance the nutritional needs of their active lifestyles. 

Animal nutritionist.

Animal nutritionists specialise in supplying animals with vitamins and minerals by providing them with food. Often, they consult on the ingredients in pet food products for companies that sell pet food.

Holistic nutritionist

A holistic nutritionist focuses on the ways in which mind, body, and spirit interact with one another to form an individual's overall wellbeing.

A nutritionist may want to introduce their focus to other aspects of a client's lifestyle in addition to nutrition in order to expand the scope of their service. 

Nutrition consultant

The definition of a nutrition consultant is someone who offers nutrition advice, but does not have the necessary licensing or education requirements that are required of a certified nutritionist. 

Eligibility and Qualifications for becoming an Nutritionist

If you wish to take a science stream in class 12th (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), chances are that you will have a wider choice of courses and career opportunities because of the greater range of courses that are available.

You can also build a foundation by studying human physiology through taking Biology.

In order to become a dietician in India, you can choose from a wide variety of course options upon graduation, such as courses in B.Sc Nutrition, B.Sc Home Science, etc.

Undergraduate programs at all of these universities are selective and based on a merit-based admission process.

1. B.Sc. / B.A. Nutrition: The topic coverage in this 3 year degree program covers different aspects of medical biotechnology, nutrition, weight loss, health, and human physiology.

The degree is not only geared towards the general health of the community but also equips students with knowledge and expertise in areas such as public health, maternal and child nutrition, etc.

You will also be introduced to various techniques on how to preserve food, to analyse foods in their food form, to understand the fundamentals of baking, etc.

During this course, you'll learn how to plan diet charts and how to put together individual weight loss plans based on your individual goals.

2. B.Sc. Food Technology: The course focuses on the safe handling and preparation of food over a period of three years.

Food science is a discipline that takes into account different principles derived from the science of food to help select, preserve, package, and distribute food in a way that is as safe and efficient as possible.

This course will introduce you to the basics of food technology, principles of food science, nutrition, food engineering, and techniques for processing food and preparing food.

Testing and evaluation of food quality is also one of the important areas in which you will receive training. It will help you understand food and nutrition in a more scientific manner, and will also help you open up a world of options that go beyond nutrition.

Education Level

The following steps will help you find out how to become a Dietician:

• The candidate should have a high school diploma with a science stream (Science with Biology is preferable).

• Make sure that you choose a program that offers B.Sc/B.A nutrition or B.Sc food technology.

• If you're thinking of pursuing a PG Diploma in Nutrition or a Master's degree program in the area of nutrition and dietetics.

• The IDA will possess the Registered Dietitian licence once you have completed your internship and passed the IQL Entrance Exam, as well as passed the IQL Entrance Exam.

Exams and their preparations

You will be termed as a Nutritionist after you complete your graduation as well as your post-graduation/PG diploma. 

If you would like to be referred to as a dietician, then the Indian Dietetic Association requires that you register as a Registered Dietician with them.

It is a prerequisite for someone to be able to become a Registered Dietitian that he or she has previously passed the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) entrance examination. 

It is a requirement that either you have completed, or be studying for, a Post Graduate Diploma or Master's level course in Food and Nutrition, and completed after graduation a 6-month internship course that will qualify you to take the examination.

Types of certification courses

You should take the initiative to get recognized by a nationally recognized organisation in order to increase your employment opportunities. There are some certifications common to nutritionists, such as:

Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)

This certification is awarded to an individual who holds either a Master's Degree in Nutrition or a related field, or an equivalent degree in Nutrition.

Additionally, this individual must possess at least 1,000 hours of experience in a clinical environment. Additionally, you must successfully complete the CBNS test in order to become certified as a nutrition specialist.

Clinical Nutritionist

If you wish to obtain this certificate, you will need some college education. You are eligible to take the Nutrition for the Elderly Certification Program if you have completed classes in nutrition, herbal medicine, or nutrition for the elderly. 

In the event that you possess a doctorate degree in Clinical Nutrition or a masters degree in Advanced Nutrition, it would be more beneficial if you did have those academic degrees. 

Even though your application will not be considered if you have taken nutrition courses, it can still be considered if you have taken them. Next, you would have to pass the clinical nutrition certification exam from the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB).

Certified Health Coach

A Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition is required for this certification, as well as passing a certification test given by an accredited organization, such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE) or National Society of Health Coaches (NSHC).

Certified Sports Nutritionist

In order to achieve this certification, you will need to have a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and pass the Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) exam.

Certified Holistic Nutritionist

You must take a course that is approved by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals and achieve 500 hours of practical experience in order to become a member. 

It is required that you pass an exam administered by the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board in order to receive your holistic nutrition credentials.

Be sure to keep your certifications up to date

For a registered dietitian to maintain board certification each year, it is necessary for the dietitian to fulfil the requirements for continuing professional education.

Continuing education is something that clinical nutritionists, for instance, are required to do every two years.

A recertification test is also required of them every five years in order to remain certified. It is imperative that RDs create an action plan for their learning and keep a record of how they achieve it. 

In addition, within the first five years of their practice, they have to undergo a professional development evaluation.

Different Universities that provide best facilities and knowledge for the course

Below is a list of some colleges in the field of food and nutrition offering BA, B.Sc, PG Diploma, and M.Sc programs:

• Women’s Christian College (Chennai)
  
  

• Institute of Home Economics, (New Delhi)
  
  

• All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Nirmala Niketan (Mumbai)
  
  

• SNDT Women’s University (Mumbai)
  
  

• Lady Irwin College (New Delhi)

Salary of a Nutritionist

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, Nutritionists make an average salary of Rs.22,090 per year in the India area, a total pay of Rs.1,15,299 per year. 

The estimated additional salary per year must be at least Rs.93,208. This should include any additional bonus, tip, or commission earned by the employee.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• There's nothing better than helping people! To be able to assist people in reaching their goals and encourage them to take control of their health and wellbeing for good is highly rewarding.
  
  You can get paid to do what you love if you are passionate about nutrition and healthy eating! 

• There are many career opportunities out there for you. As a food journalist or as a content writer, you have numerous career opportunities available to you.

• In addition to working for manufacturers, retailers, classrooms, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, they can also work in medical research.
  
  In some instances, dietitians are able to establish their own private counselling businesses, which is an added advantage. A range of health conditions can be diagnosed and treated by these practitioners using food and nutrition protocols.

• Certification and licensing are highly regulated. The required training and education may be an advantage depending on what career path you wish to pursue if you hope to stand out among your peers.

• The best route to take if you are interested in working in nutrition in a hospital setting or another institution is to become a dietitian.
  
  In addition to the experience of being a dietitian, you are distinguished from those with other nutrition qualifications.

Cons

• A narrow approach to nutrition is a common component of many training programs. By taking a holistic approach to nutrition, we can achieve nutritional health - in other words, we should not just rely on calorie counting, protein-to-carbohydrate ratios, or other measures that don't consider the whole picture.

• It will come as no surprise to anyone that many of these recommendations are biassed by corporate interests, and that some of the research being funded by corporations is strictly for their own gain.

• The two most important factors are time and money. The process of becoming a dietitian is an arduous one which involves a great deal of time as well as a major financial investment.

• To become a dietitian there are several steps involved, including taking the exam, becoming licensed, obtaining a certificate, completing continuing education requirements, and joining the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Conclusion

Various principles of dietetics and nutrition guide dieticians in analyzing and evaluating individuals' eating habits in order to help them eat a balanced diet.

Health care and rehabilitation professionals deal with nutrition science. Through this article, I hope to give you a thorough introduction to the field.

Above all the topic about how to become a Nutritionist In India.

FAQs

Q. Is being a nutritionist a good career in India?

Ans. There has also been an increase in demand for nutritionists. When it comes to diet plans that satisfy their health needs, people often seek nutritionists' advice. Professional nutritionists are often employed in such places as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and public health clinics.

Q. What qualifications do you need to be a nutritionist?

Ans. An intern must have a master's degree in food & nutrition and a postgraduate diploma in nutrition and dietetics plus a six-month internship after graduation in order to qualify for the exam.

Q. How much do nutritionists make in India?

Ans. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, Nutritionists make an average salary of Rs.22,090 per year in the India area, a total pay of Rs.1,15,299 per year.