Why Study Holistic Nutrition? Because food is at the root of well-being and chronic diseases
Holistic nutrition therapists are uniquely trained to help people make significant health changes by understanding the true impact of food on well-being. If you’ve ever wondered why studying holistic nutrition matters, now is the perfect time to explore this transformative field.
Why Nutrition Matters Now More Than Ever
Nutrition has reached the ‘Mainstage’. For the first time in the United States, there are high-level vocal defenders with strong messages about healthy eating, higher quality food choices, and a commitment to changing the devastating course of the chronic disease epidemic in this country. They publicly acknowledge the inherent problems with our food supply. Furthermore, they highlight how the current Standard American Diet (SAD) is a major contributor to poor health outcomes. They readily acknowledge the limitations and outright falsehoods of previously available public dietary guidelines.
This is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have been working and teaching in the field of holistic nutrition for decades, and have always felt like we were “swimming upstream” against an impenetrable tide of misinformation and disdain about the true meaning of good nutrition.
Another revelation from these leaders is how much of the poor state of our food is due to corporate corruption and government interference. Did you know that the FDA censors nutrient and disease relationships and prevents consumers from knowing about the health-optimizing benefits of certain nutrients? This censorship is a byproduct of government efforts to help protect pharmaceutical monopolies from competition. Essentially, health freedom is being lost due to government-corporate complicity.
The connection between chronic diseases and food
Chronic illness is pervasive. According to the CDC:
- Six out of ten Americans live with at least one chronic illness;
- Four out of ten have multiple chronic conditions.
These diseases—including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and others—are the leading causes of death and disability and drive an overwhelming share of U.S. health care use. All have an underlying nutrition and nutritional component. However, most doctors in the US are not equipped to counsel patients about diet and food choices. There are nutritional competencies are not nationally required as part of medical education. In most medical schools, nutrition education is not mandatory. Additionally, if students receive meals, it is less than 20 hours, and often only 5-10 hours at most. Many doctors lack even basic nutritional knowledge, including the nutritional content of foods and the main dietary sources of macronutrients and micronutrients.
But doctors don’t need to know the intricate details about nutrition. Their training and work should focus on medicine and saving lives. So we should cut them some slack and not expect them to know everything about food and nutrition. There are experts in this field who have the deep knowledge necessary to help people make better food choices to achieve their wellness goals.
How Holistic Nutrition Education Provides a Solution
That’s where holistic nutrition education comes in.
Holistic nutrition education equips students with the knowledge and skills to help others achieve their wellness goals. If you are wondering, “What does holistic nutrition mean?”check out NTI’s e-book, What does Holistic Nutrition mean?
Some may think that nutrition is too obvious a concept to be worth learning and pursuing formal education. I’m here to say that this is a false assumption, and that now is definitely the right time.
Sure, we have Nutrition Facts labels and manufacturer labels on the front of the box that tell us what’s in our food and what health benefits we can expect from eating those foods, but these are woefully inadequate to provide meaningful and practical information. Herein lies one of the big problems – the majority of foods bearing these labels are the same ones that have been identified as major underlying contributors to chronic disease: Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF).
Because our SAD food system is so full of UPFs, often with attractive glossy packaging and hollow bold claims, most people have no idea how to make truly healthy choices. They don’t understand the difference between nutrient complete food and UPF. Therefore, they do not realize the potential long-term consequences of choosing nutrient-deficient and poor-quality foods. And they lack the necessary knowledge to choose foods to achieve certain optimal health goals.
Become a trusted nutrition guide
People need reliable guidance, and that guidance should come from someone like you who is interested in nutrition and wants to turn their passion into a rewarding career – one that aligns with your personal beliefs about the close links between food and wellness. There is a growing demand for holistic nutrition professionals, fueled by high-level public discussions about food and health. If you’re looking for a way to get on that fast-moving freight train, now is the time and NTI is the right school.
A formal holistic nutrition education provides:
- Deep understanding of nutrition science including biochemistry and therapeutic applications
- Ability to lead others in making informed health-promoting food choices
- Career opportunities aligned with personal wellness values and passion for food
- Preparing for emerging public demand for a holistic nutrition experience
Benefits of studying Holistic Nutrition
Choosing holistic nutrition as a field of study offers benefits beyond personal health knowledge. Students gain:
- Expertise in preventive and therapeutic nutrition
- Skills to supporting clients in achieving optimal health
- Flexible training options, incl self-paced online learning or cohort-based formats
- Ability to career development in coaching, consulting, teaching and private practice
- A foundation to challenge the misinformation in the modern food system
Flexible Training Options at NTI
The Nutrition Therapy Institute offers comprehensive online nutrition programs that can be completed in 1-3 years, depending on the program you choose. Students can choose:
- Self-regulated learningfor independent students
- Cohort-based online coursesfor those who thrive in group settings
This flexibility ensures that holistic nutrition education can fit into your life while still providing deep, meaningful education.
Careers in Holistic Nutrition
NTI graduates are ready to enter a growing field. With public attention to the relationship between food and chronic disease, the demand for qualified holistic nutrition practitioners is increasing. Possible career paths include:
- Holistic nutritional guidance or counseling
- Corporate wellness and employee health programs
- Teaching roles, workshops or creating online content
- Integral cooperation in the field of health
By gaining your qualification, you will not only transform your life, but also become a trusted guide to others seeking better health.
Frequently asked questions about the study of holistic nutrition
Q: What can I do with a holistic nutrition certification?
A: You can pursue careers in coaching, consulting, teaching, managing wellness programs, or start your own practice.
Q: How long does it take to study holistic nutrition at NTI?
A: Depending on your pace, programs can be completed in 1-3 years.
Q: Is holistic nutrition a good career choice?
A: Yes. With chronic diseases on the rise and the public’s growing interest in nutrition, there is a growing demand for trained holistic nutrition professionals.
Q: Why choose NTI for holistic nutrition education?
A: NTI provides comprehensive, science-based, flexible online programs led by experienced faculty. Graduates are well prepared for meaningful careers in holistic nutrition.
Take the next step
There are powerful players working hard to keep us all in the dark and quietly succumbing to deception about the connections between food and health. They do this because it serves them and their ever-expanding profit margins. They would rather maintain the status quo and we continue to rely on UPF as the dominant food source, not be informed about how to take responsibility for our own health outcomes, and not share what we know with others.
If you want to opt out of this SAD food system that only serves corporate profit motives, you must take the initiative to seek education and empower yourself to do so. Health is an inside job that requires intention and active participation. Once you get this training and become qualified to be the driver people are looking for, your life will change for the better. You will become a trusted expert for others as well. Holistic nutrition education at NTI equips you to guide people to better health while building a rewarding career.
Check out what the Nutrition Therapy Institute has to offer – now is the right time to study holistic nutrition and NTI is the right school.
Author: Dianne Koehler, Director of the Nutrition Therapy Institute
Images by NTI alumna Maddie LeBrun
