Please Help Defend Our Rights to Practice Nutrition Education
by Guest Blogger, Angelle Batten, MEd of NourishMD.com
I am not a medical doctor. I am not a registered dietician. I’m not a certified nutritionist either. I am a Holistic Health Coach certified through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition with a masters degree in education.
I’ve helped hundreds of people improve the quality of their diets and of their health. But now my career may be in jeopardy, due to a new Michigan law.
People have come to me because they want to learn more about how to eat real food everyday. Susan McCreadie, a holistic pediatrician, saw the value in what I do and partnered with me to co-create NourishMD.com, a comprehensive resource for parents who want to know how to feed their children real food and solve health problems holistically. She’s learned a lot from me about nutrition and I’ve learned a lot from her about real health. Together we love teaching moms, dads, kids, teachers and anyone who’s interested about real food. It’s our passion.
There’s a good chance that what I am doing is going to be illegal in Michigan. You see, the American Dietetics Association has gotten a law passed that will allow them to monopolize the field of nutrition. Holistic Health Coaches, no matter what their education, aren’t even being considered qualified to teach about food and health. Most certified nutritionists will not be able to practice under this law. REAL food bloggers, chefs and health food store owners who counsel customers might even be in trouble. Some of the biggest names (hint, hint – Sally Fallon) in the nutrition world would not be qualified to teach about nutrition in Michigan. People will either go out of business or will take the risk of being prosecuted – all for helping people lead healthier lives.
You would think, that since Michigan is considered one of the unhealthiest states when you look at obesity statistics, we would want everyone working on this issue. Not so. I guess if we all work on the issue, somehow the American Dietetics Association would have too much competition. Or maybe they are just getting nervous because people are waking up to the fact that they are in bed with companies like Coca Cola and hmmm…that’s not so great for our health.
Whatever the reason, they have used their money and power in almost every state to try to create this monopoly. The law is passed in my state. Now it’s the rules that are being negotiated. Which is why if you value your freedom to choose who you want to get your nutrition information and support from; or if you are a nutrition professional who loves what you do but isn’t an RD; or if you would not like to see even more people in Michigan lose their jobs, this is your time to speak up.
The American Dietetics Association doesn’t recommend grass-fed meat from local farmers or fermented foods, and certainly not raw dairy products. The diet they approved for my diabetic aunt when she was in the hospital included artificially sweetened red jell-o and lots of white flour products. This is not the direction we want to be headed. We need to stand up and say so now. Only then will continue to have the right to choose when it comes to our health and that of our children.
What you Can Do to Help
Please take a few minutes and visit www.MichiganNutritionAssociation.com to learn more. Even if you’re not in Michigan this affects you. You’ll see how you can quickly and easily send an email that shares your opinion and story.
If we don’t get involved we can’t complain when the ADA controls the messages our children hear about what to eat, and we can be assured the messages aren’t going to be promoting traditional and real foods.
A related article:
http://www.anh-usa.org/main-menu/campaigns/monopoly-over-nutritional-therapy/
Dr. Sue McCreadie and Angelle Batten
Angelle Batten, MEd, is a Holistic Health Coach certified through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She co-created NourishMD.com with Susan McCreadie, MD, to help parents learn how to feed children REAL food on a daily basis and solve health problems holistically.
"Kimberly Hartke is the Guardian Angel of Small Farms and the Fund!"
20 Comments
What youre saying is completely true. I know that everybody must say the same thing, but I just think that you put it in a way that everyone can understand. I also love the images you put in here. They fit so well with what youre trying to say. Im sure youll reach so many people with what youve got to say.
Can one get acredited from the ADA but still recommend raw milk and grassfed meats? Will they “disbar” people, or take away their credentials of they recommend real foods and traditional fats?
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..Eat Fat- Lose Fat =-.
This whole thing makes me angry and sad. What happened to our freedom and rights when it comes to our most basic need: food?
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Food for Thought =-.
What about the right of free speech we are supposed to have? This law is an absolute disgrace, to let one school of nutrition, the one that does not work, monopolize the area. This law violates the first amendment to the Constitution. It should be challenged in Federal court.
.-= Stanley Fishman´s last blog ..Understanding Dr Weston A Price =-.
WOW !!! Hey everybody, take a look at the line-up of ADA sponsors: makers of “science-based” infant formula, plant sterols, soft drinks; cafeteria suppliers, dairy lobbyists, and heart-healthy breakfast cereal makers. What does that tell you about the ADA’s interests? Why don’t they also have the bakers at Twinkies as a corporate sponsor? After all, their food never rots!!
Back in the 1990s, Michigan led the country with the most stringent homeschooling law on the books. They were a hairsbreadth from making homeschooling flat out illegal, the only state in the nation to take the fight that far. A new governor was elected, a fan of homeschooling, and the threat disappeared. In fact, Michigan adopted one of the most open homeschooling policies in the states. For some reason, Michigan seems prone to these drastic swings of policy.
Homeschoolers need to be clued in to this new development. They are, as a group, a strong voice, not afraid to contact their legislators, and would bristle at being told what they are permitted to teach!
.-= Local Nourishment´s last blog ..What do real food bloggers eat =-.
It is our right to teach our families and others about nutrition. As Tim Wightman said at the “Second Raw Milk Symposium,” we have to take back our rights: freedom of Speech, government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is not up to the government to tell us to whom we must refer for nutrition information- it is the choice of the individual.
Being from among the ranks, I can tell you that people can have their licenses taken away if they teach about natural foods. Becoming a RD involves completing the coursework, a lengthy internship, an exam, and towing the party line which involves recommending only industrial ag products.
In the internship, from 6 months to a year, the students must focus mainly on the hospital, learning about the artificial products used in clinical dietetics. For example, when a feeding tube patient needs mid-chain fatty acids, which are essential for life, they are prescribed a gooey artificial mix instead of just natural coconut oil. The remainder of the internship time can be spent in various venues, depending on the program. Maybe then you go to WIC, to do a “community component.” WIC is the government program for pregnant women, babies and children, which, like the RD program, supports Big Ag.
You can get tofu, tofu, and more tofu for your baby with your WIC card. WIC and school lunch programs are the dumping ground for all the surplus corn, wheat, soy, which the government pays farmers to grow, using Monsanto’s “Round-up” pesticides. But, on the other hand, you can use your WIC card at farmers markets.
Many RD’s are not healthy, are extremely thin, and some have problems with eating. One instructor I had at Penn State who taught counseling, which was, by the way, a 1 credit course (the only required counseling course), was bulimic, and became almost hysterical when I insisted that cheese is a healthy food. She also could not tolerate the idea that sea salt was necessary in a healthy diet. Counseling was by rote- and all clients were counseled basically the same, low fat, low fat, low fat, to converge with the current cholesterol paradigm. Another professor, who taught “Diet Therapy,” the major course in this program, wrote on one of my projects, :”Why give children organic food, it is so expensive?” She was also the one who defended rBST (Bovine Growth Hormone) when I brought it up in class and who didnt know why carbohydrates produced triglycerides.
The reference books are geared towards processed foods. When a student is asked to break down foods in the client’s diet to make sure the client is getting the “RDA,” the major reference we were required to use listed only boxed, canned and other ready-to-eat items. This reference is a”classic” in the dietetics field.
They are “pushing” soybeans in all possible ways, artificial sweeteners, and low fat, low fat, low fat- there is no such thing as GMO’s. Indeed we call Penn State, a big Ag school, Monsanto U. And that is what they are teaching the future RD’s, the only so-called health professionals that are to teach us about nutrition. The RD’s and RN’s are trained to be the handmaidens of the physicians, the pharmaceutical, Big Ag, and the medical supply industries.
A student could not complete a project using traditional foods. She has to announce understanding of the current RD dogma. The professors are there to see to that. Some professors at Penn State in the Nutrition Dept only teach one course per semester. The rest of their time is spent on research. And this is considered one of the “prima” nutrition programs in the country.
Sylvia
Sylvia, your insider info is valuable– I figured ADA were pawns of the med/bigpharma/bigfood/bigag complex who won’t be entirely satisfied until we are all on feeding tubes.
Do not just get the MI homeschoolers involved, but the food/farm/freedom groups too– and the health freedom groups. Develop an electronic communication system and a statewide blog. That is what I would do.
But no matter what, don’t stop teaching and screaming.
.-= Augie´s last blog ..One-minute Clip- Supreme Court Nominee Could Not Say If Government Has Power to Dictate What We Must Eat =-.
Sylvia, thank you for this information.
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..Eat Fat- Lose Fat =-.
Yes, thanks Sylvia for the inside glimpse of what goes on. I find the actions of associations who try to use the law to block their competitors deplorable!
It happens in many industries, but really hits home when it affects our choice and our health.
Sylvia,
As a member of ADA, I am curious what you are referring to when you say “I can tell you that people can have their licenses taken away if they teach about natural foods.” I think this statement is not well supported. This statement, as well as many of your other comments are misleading to the readers of this article. I am also curious about how long ago you had this experience as a dietetic intern, because you describe a very different educational climate than what I have been exposed to.
I am aware of the image that ADA has developed over the past couple of decades. I am not denying that ADA has some less than ideal corporate sponsors. But I am not sure that you all are aware of the steps being taken within the ADA, specifically some of the Dietetic Practice Groups, to help our organization to meet a higher level of standards. Some RDs and other members of ADA are speaking out against the choice of some sponsors whose products and practices are seen to conflict with our mission and objectives as a professional health organization.
I think that consumers have the right to get nutrition information from whoever they would like. However, I also think that consumers should not have to worry about if the nutrition information they are receiving is sound, if it appropriate for any medical conditions they might have, or if food preparation techniques and practices are safe.
When I saw the name of the site this article originated on “NourishMD”, I felt comforted that the information on this site would be trustworthy. I would think it would have scientifically-based, trustworthy information because I know how much education and research goes receiving a Doctorate of Medicine. So, I find it intriguing that people reading an article from a site with MD in it’s domain name, would make such blanket statements regarding RDs in response to the ADA trying to ensure that the public have access to well educated and trained nutrition educators. Would you want to receive advice and treatment from “doctor” who has only read a few books (that may or may not be scientifically sound) about the condition he thinks you have? I wouldn’t. I would want someone who knows the biochemistry and physiology of my condition who would be able to guide whichever treatment I choose.
I don’t mean to ramble on so, but I really think that the readers of this article and the comments, should not take everything that is said, regarding ADA and Registered Dietitians, for absolute truth. Do some research, talk to some dietitians, and make an educated decision based on your findings.
Visit
http://www.eatright.org/
http://www.hendpg.org/
I believe NJ is working to pass a similar law.
What’s interesting about this is that it will also prohibit professors of nutrition who are not RDs from maintaining private practices. So, while they can teach aspiring RDs about nutrition, they themselves won’t be able to practice.
I am a graduate of Institute for Integrative Nutrition as well. It’s very interesting that you can study nutrition without going the dietetics track, but there are all these restrictions on how you can actually practice in the field.
The ADA is in the pocket of big food interest. I believe that there are individual RDs who do not support the ADA’s standards and practices, but they aren’t doing very much to fight the hypocrisies.
.-= Melissa Danielle´s last blog ..Food for Thought 6-27-2010 =-.
Hello all.
What you are all missing here is we in Michigan are far from first to get licensure. Below is a list of states that currently have licensure for Dietitians. You need to educate yourself and fight the right fight. If this law is truly going to outlaw your practice, does that mean that you only practice in the remaining 18 states that have yet to gain licensure?
The law will help protect innocent consumers from your “Big Pharma” owned and operated nutritional franchises that put a high school kid behind the counter and encourage them to sell the most expensive protein powder or “natural body building supplement” on the premise that a person will improve strength or whatever other claim they choose. The law protects your children from being “educated” by someone concerned more with money than health and from being encouraged to take Creatine from his or her gym coach.
States with Licensed Dietitians:
Alabama (1989)* – licensing of dietitian/nutritionist
Alaska (1999) – licensing of dietitian/nutritionist
Arkansas (1989) – licensing of dietitian
District of Columbia (1986) – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
Florida (1988) – licensing of dietitian, nutritionist and nutrition counselors
Georgia (1994)* – licensing of dietitian
Idaho (1994) – licensing of dietitian
Illinois (1991) – licensing of dietitian and nutrition counselors
Iowa (1985) – licensing of dietitian
Kansas (1989)* – licensing of dietitian
Kentucky (1994)* – licensing of dietitian and certification of nutritionist
Louisiana (1987)* – licensing of dietitian/nutritionist
Maine (1994)* – licensing of dietitian and dietetic technician
Maryland (1994)* – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
Massachusetts (1999) – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
Minnesota (1994) – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
Mississippi (1994)* – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist title protection
Montana (1987)* – licensing of nutritionist and dietitian title protection
Nebraska (1995)* – licensing of medical nutrition therapists
New Hampshire (2000) – licensing of dietitian
New Mexico (1997) – licensing of dietitian, nutritionist and nutrition associates
North Carolina (1991) – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
North Dakota (1989)* – licensing of dietitian and certification of nutritionist
Ohio (1986) – licensing of dietitian
Oklahoma (1984) – licensing of dietitian
Pennsylvania (2002) – licensing of dietitian-nutritionist
Puerto Rico (1974)* – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
Rhode Island (1991)* – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
South Dakota (1996) – licensing of dietitian and nutritionist
Tennessee (1987) – licensing of dietitian/nutritionist
Texas (1993)* – licensing of dietitian
West Virginia (2000) – licensing of dietitian
In response to Sylvia and all the others labeling Dietitians as “not allowed to recommend whole foods” and “losing licensure for talking about free-range, organic grass fed beef” are greatly misled as well. Research the ADA position on sustainability and look into the “Balanced Menu Challenge” put forth by Health Care Without Harm in conjunction with a dietetics practice group of the American Dietetic Association.
I, as a Registered Dietitian and member of the American Dietetics Association, believe STRONGLY in the power of food as medicine and the holistic approach to health, wellness and nutrition. There is no reason to outlaw a nutrition professional that is adequately trained, the issue is making sure the guidelines of adequately trained are in the verbiage of the law. Have you been involved with legislature to know what the wording is for the licensure? Perhaps you need to get involved at the right level (slightly above slander and closer to the level that affects progress). Perhaps you would like some help since it appears you have had trouble finding accurate information thus far…
Sec. 18357. (1) An individual shall not engage in the practice of dietetics and nutrition or provide or offer to provide dietetics and nutrition care services unless licensed or otherwise authorized under this part.
(2) The department, upon recommendation of the board, shall promulgate rules under section 16145 to establish the minimum standards for licensure as a dietician or nutritionist and as necessary or appropriate to fulfill its functions under this article including, but not limited to, rules establishing ethics, qualifications, and fitness of applicants, complaint process, and penalties for violations of this article or rules promulgated under this article.
(5) The department, in consultation with the board, shall not promulgate rules under this section that diminish competition or exceed the minimum level of regulation necessary to protect the public.
Are you concerned that your profession will not qualify for licensure under any of these areas? If so, I believe you are part of what the state is trying to protect against. I personally feel that you may well be eligible for licensure under the same legislature and your occupation will be supported with more credibility by this process.
Best to all that are practicing sound nutrition advice to help others achieve optimal wellness. We really are all in this together!
I completely agree with R dietitian.. there are soooo many people out there dispensing harmful nutrition information. Like the “nutritionists” at gyms that believe protein powder will fix everything. People don’t know how much training, education, or experience an educator has and these licensure laws help point them in the right direction. RD’s go through extensive training to understand the way the body works and how how it changes during certain disease states. The credentials ensure they are qualified, but the direction that the RD chooses to go in is entirely up to them. I know plenty of RD’s who forbid artificial sweeteners and have more holistic nutrition practices.
When cool aid claims it has more vitamin C than freshly squeezed orange juice, that part is true. But true is not always honest truth. A patina of truth is perhaps the best cover for a lie. The questions here should be this, “what is in col aid that is not in O.J., and what is O. J. that is not in cool aid?” The argument “we are preventing everyone form practicing anything that has anything to do with anything including the word nutrition except RD’s or those who are educated and trained under rules almost cloned from CDR requirement, is an angelic effort to protect the public is a very similar case to the cool aid scenario. Can the ADA at some point have the courage to say “as a dues collecting organization, we aim to protect our dues paying members form competitors”? That would be both true and honest. Of course there are some “out there” whose only qualification to practice nutrition is their ability to chew food, and no one in the right mind and some integrity to go with it would dismiss the need to protect the public form greedy unqualified practitioners, but lumping everyone who doesn’t carry the letters RD in one basket is flagrantly unjust and shows either lack of knowledge about the academic training and practical experience of many nutritionists which in many cases exceed that of an RD.
The public needs both. RD’s whose training is, as described earlier, more focused on hospital settings and food service than those who opted for a more focus on the current and progressive approach to studying nutrition with more emphasis on the value of what may sound to a traditionalist as mumbo jumbo quackery. To continue polarizing the debate and confuse everyone in the process is not helping or protecting anyone or anything.
The person who tried to sound so kind by offering a lofty suggestion for non RD’s to seek facts (which is clearly meant as an insult) should do the same. CDR requirements are certainly valuable to educate RD’s, but they are far from being commandments for humanity at large and quite honestly are not adequate for “modern times”.
Lastly, let’s acknowledge that not everyone with a drivers license is a perfectly wonderful omnipotent driver. TBC.
Thank you ‘R dietitian’.
In order to secure federal support and supplementation for nutritional counseling we need to verify training and certification. ADA has worked for decades developing and validating this certification process.
This is an educational option that is available at over 200 colleges/universities. And recently the ADA, AMA and other nationally recognized organizations dedicated to health, have not only begun to recognize integrative health practices, but have embraced and adopted these practices.
@Akl Sehhi – if CDR requirements are seen as too narrow to meet the needs of our population then we need to raise the expectations of the ADA and RDs to provide nutrition education/modifications/support for all walks of life. But allowing the field of “nutritionist” and “dietitian” to remain undefined leaves the public vulnerable to whims of media and the latest quick weight-loss scheme, rather than guiding them toward consistent education that can lead to lifestyle changes for the individual and our culture as a whole.
This is not an attempt to monopolize the nutrition industry. It is an attempt to protect patients and clients. Individuals without proper education and background are “teaching” clients about nutrition and health, and too many of these people are misinformed and under false assumptions about healthcare. If we want to improve the health of Americans, we need to be able to trust our health with our healthcare providers. Without appropriate certification for our industry, the health of the consumer is left in the hands of people who may or may not be qualified to provide education to clients. People need to trust that the information given to them is accurate, and with too many people providing false nutrition information it inevitably hurts the reputation of the nutrition profession.
This is not an attempt to edge out qualified individuals, this is an attempt to protect the industry of dietetics and the health of the nation.
Thanks for the conversation everyone. Here’s a blog post from Dr. David Brownstein, an MD in Michigan, about this issue for anyone who is interested. http://drdavidbrownstein.blogspot.com/ You may have to scroll down just a bit to read it.
Well, can you please ask the great RD’s of America!!! Why is the professional of dietetics so widely represented by Caucasian women? Less than 2% are black and less than 1% are Latin American? However, 99% of the minority population suffer from the major health problems.ie diabetes, HTN, renal failure and etc. The services of the Holistic community can help these individuals.
The RD’s will not and won’t visit these communities. WHY?
Give access to all nutrition professionals not just the RD’s
INTERNSHIPS ARE A PROBLEM! Please don’t give that old adage…The internships are high competitive! Are many of those minority don’t qualify. Please RD’s explain to the good people of this website why they are basically no internships for students.
You are right ADA and the CDR have for decades deliberately made sure that minority were not represented in this professions.
As an African American male Registered Dietitian, I am disappointed at the lack of agrressive and effective attempts at increasing diversity within my profession and am working to address this issue. And I agree that the lack of diversity contributes to the healthcare disparity within the African American coummunities.
However, I am a strong believer that licensing dietitians is best for the public.
I have seen the emotional and physiological damages done to clients who were counseled by “nutritionists” who lacked the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide medical nutrition therapy. I have counseled patients who had given up on following a prescribed meal plan because of misinformation provided by other “nutritionists” or received conflicting advice from other “nutritionists.” Patients that were eventually referred to a Registered Dietitian because they now have end-stage organ diseases or other serious complications from uncontrolled medical conditions because they were not initially referred to a Registered Dietitian.
Medical nutrition therapy is oftentimes the first line of treatment for many chronic diseases and is the cornerstone of treatment for these diseases.
Registered Dietitians are medical nutrition therapists with extensive education in chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, psychology, and other biological and social sciences. We study the physiology and pathophysiology of diseases and body systems, successfully complete a supervised internship, and must pass a national exam.
It’s unfortunate that some qualified nutritionists will be unable to practice, but it’s for the greater good of protecting the public.