What is a Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultant?

Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultants (R.H.N.s) are professionals trained in natural nutrition and complementary therapies, whose principal function is to educate individuals and groups about benefits of optimal nutrition.

R.H.N.s guide their clients through the maze of information in books, magazines, and the web about supplements and diets that are on the market as well as help them decipher and understand new studies and relevant articles pertaining to health concerns. They do not treat diseases or their symptoms or prescribe fad diets for fast weight loss. Rather, they work with individuals to identify and help correct the nutritional causes of imbalanced health, and they are qualified to design personalized diet and lifestyle programs that optimize whole health.

Holism recognizes that each individual is a complex being. Holistic practitioners look at the whole person focusing on natural, organic, whole foods diet and natural supplements, including all aspects; diet, lifestyle, emotional and spiritual. Emotional and mental health is just as important as physical health when assessing a person’s state of being. An imbalance in one of these areas can create disturbances in the others and upset one’s homeostatic balance. There are different stages of symptoms our body will communicate to us. How long or where we are with an imbalance is known as acute, chronic or degenerative. Holism doesn’t ignore or treat the symptoms exhibited by the body, but rather teaches the individual how to understand what is going on via nutrition in one’s entire health in the present time.

The major difference between a Holistic Nutritional Consultant and a Dietician is that the latter are not permitted to teach holism. They teach according to the Food Guide set out by the food industry under the guidance of the medical industry and follow generalized programs to treat the symptoms of a specific illness. Although these programs may be effective, they do not usually get to the root cause of the malady, and the strict guidelines of the programs do not bring the client into a better state of well-being or happiness. Registered Dietitians are currently government regulated, whereas Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultants are self regulated.

Graduates of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition’s (CSNN) comprehensive Natural Nutrition Diploma program are dedicated professionals who follow a Code of Ethics, and who educate individuals about the health benefits of natural nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. As per their scope of practice, an R.H.N. does not perform any Controlled Acts outlined in the Regulated Provincial Health Acts. Together with the education referred to above, holistic nutritionists support their clients’ wellbeing and assist health care providers to deal with many aspects involved in a client’s health. Due to their level of knowledge, holistic nutritionists are valuable contributors to health care and work alongside medical professionals such as chiropractors, naturopaths, homeopaths, and medical doctors. While no governmental regulation exists or is required for holistic nutritionists, CSNN graduates adhere to a Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice and principles learned at CSNN which set very high standards. The science of nutrition is fast evolving and CSNN is well adapted to provide education at the most current levels. What was thought good yesterday may be proven lacking tomorrow so our profession must adapt quickly to keep pace with science.

There are approximately 5,000 R.H.N.s working in several countries. Their number, as well as their education and training, ensure that they are leaders in the industry. The education provided by the CSNN is unparalleled in the holistic field. CSNN offers a curriculum which is standardized across the country, is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its quality and current relevance. Strong promotion by the CSNN Alumni Association and apprenticeship with the Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals (CAHNPro) contribute to the demand for CSNN graduates, not only as practitioners in overall health care, but also as writers, speakers, public educators, researchers, and cooking instructors.