Are Science Classes Part of the Registered Dietitian's Education?

Registered Dietitians are educated about food science as well as human sciences including biology and biochemistry. Dietetics is the study of the interactions between nutrition and health. So the Registered Dietitian, or RD for short, must learn the basic sciences of foods and of the human body.

Food science examines the physical, biological and chemical components of food; the nutrients found in food, and how food is safely prepared, processed, distributed, sold and labeled.

Registered dietitians learn how certain foods can promote health in individuals and populations, and how other food components--such as sodium and cholesterol--can contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and high blood pressure.

Registered Dietitians also learn normal and therapeutic nutrition, by building on the basics of biology, physiology, and biochemistry. In order to understand what happens to food in the body, the dietitian learns about the body's organ functions, cell metabolism, and how foods are digested and absorbed.

Ultimately, foods we eat turn into the materials that build and maintain our body. So it is essential for the Registered Dietitian to know how the body normally functions, and then what changes happen in the state of a disease, illness, trauma or other abnormality.

Once we learn all about nutrition and dietetics, we can understand
- why certain foods are important: for instance, dairy products contain calcium, which is essential for strong bones as well as muscle contractions, nerve signals, and blood clotting

- why some foods are unhealthy in excess: one donut? No problem... three a day, now you're talking a lot of additional calories, fat and sugar which can lead to unwanted weight gain without the benefit of protein and vitamins

- what is the truth about carbohydrates: They break down to sugars after digestion, and these sugars are necessary for energy. In fact, every cell uses glucose to convert to energy so the body can move and carry out essential functions; some cells--like those in the brain and kidney--can only use glucose. RDs know that avoiding carbohydrates is not only unnecessary, but can really mess up your normal metabolism!

If the science of the human body, the science of food, and the interactions that occur every time we eat strikes your interest, you might enjoy a career as a Registered Dietitian! Keiser University in Port St. Lucie has a coordinated program in dietetics. This allows you to actually practice in the field after you complete classroom studies, all under the guidance of knowledgeable preceptors. Find out more today by clicking here!

Does a Registered Dietitian Work With Sick People?

Some of the settings where a Registered Dietitian can work include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or nursing homes.

Nothing makes a sick person more sick than a poor diet!  It is so important when a person is already in poor physical condition--whether they have heart disease, cancer, a terrible car accident, or even just an operation--that they receive the best nutritional intake for their specific situation.

Registered Dietitians can help patients heal more quickly so they can get back to their happy, healthy life. We can suggest foods that are more nutrient dense, higher in protein, or higher in calories depending on the needs of the patient.

Sometimes a person doesn't feel like eating when they are ill, or some of them cannot eat due to obstructions in their throat or stomach. The Registered Dietitian has the knowledge and experience to make the proper recommendations to the medical team, and get the proper nutrition support to each and every patient.

If working in a health care setting appeals to you, and helping people get the nutrients they need in the right amounts sounds like a career you would like, contact us at Keiser University and find out more about our program in Nutrition and Dietetics.