Nutritional Therapy Degrees
We have all heard the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." In other words, good nutrition is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Nutritional therapy incorporates that concept into the treatment and prevention of illness. Doctors, health consultants and nutrition masters utilize nutritional therapy to help clients improve strength, energy and immunity; increase concentration; experience fewer side effects during medical treatment or enhance overall lifestyle.
Nutritional therapy addresses every illness, from ADHD to obesity to heart disease to cancer. A career in nutritional therapy can be rewarding as well as lucrative. And it all starts with a nutritional therapy degree.
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Types
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At the undergraduate level, most universities award bachelor's degrees in such majors as Nutritional Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Related degrees in such fields as Physical Therapy and Food and Service Management also rely heavily on nutrition concepts to advance well-being.
Worldwide Learn provides a listing of several schools that offer online degrees in nutrition, including a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and certificates in Food Science, Sports Nutrition and Dietary Management. You can also opt for a vocational program in Holistic Nutrition, Natural Healing or General Nutrition.
Finally, check with the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists about earning the title of Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).
Duration
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At the university level, you will access nutrition concepts along with a broader curriculum to earn a degree after four years. Certificate programs can take as little as one to two years.
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Benefits
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If you are a health buff who loves to exercise and watch what you eat, earning a nutritional therapy degree may be a natural step for you. If you have always been interested in a career in medicine but cannot see yourself investing 10 years to become a doctor, nutritional therapy is another route in a similar direction.
Whatever your background, with a nutritional therapy degree, you will be an advocate for good health and will learn to treat disease. A nutritional therapy degree can also be applied in various settings, from public health to private practice.
Careers
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According to the U.C. Berkeley College of Natural Resources, public and nonprofit jobs in the nutrition field include serving as a nutritionist for a public school or county agency, developing policy for a federal agency, researching nutrition for a university or government association or teaching about nutrition in a school setting.
Private sector jobs include nutrition consulting or advising for a fitness center.
Getting Started
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With so much versatility related to the expertise, you are sure to find a career that suits your goals. Start with your personal vision. Perhaps you see yourself in a lab coat researching the properties of sugar, or you imagine yourself in the classroom teaching kids about the food pyramid. With these options in mind, you will navigate toward the nutritional therapy degree that is right for you, whether it is Food Science or Sports Nutrition.
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