Reasons to Earn a Bachelor of Holistic Nutrition Degree
Holistic healing is a facet of alternative medicine, which focuses on the healing of the entire being: emotional, spiritual, and physical, in order to cure illness or disease. This is in direct contrast to traditional methods, which tend to treat individual symptoms or organ systems to achieve a cure.
Holistic nutrition relies on the use of well balanced diets of natural ingredients to improve the overall fitness, well-being, and health of a patient. Holistic nutritionists generally believe in the healing powers of fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, and other natural foods. Some practitioners also use lean meats such as fish as part of their treatment plans.
A bachelor of holistic nutrition degree can provide students with information on this fascinating alternative to the traditional health care system. Students who are interested in health care careers but who are leery of traditional medical practice may find holistic nutrition and alternative medicine to be a challenging, exciting, and rewarding field. New applications for holistic healing and new careers are being created every day as researchers discover the possible health advantages offered by holistic treatments.
Career Possibilities
Job Outlook and Growth
A bachelor of holistic nutrition degree program can prepare students for careers as dieticians, nutritionists, and alternative medicine specialists. Some of these careers will require additional professional training and certification that may or may not be included in the undergraduate program.
The US Department of Labor, www.bls.gov, believes that holistic and alternative medicine professionals will be in greater demand in the coming decade as patients and health care providers begin to realize the possible advantages offered by holistic healing practices. The stigma against alternative medicine is slowly receding and one day practitioners may be accepted as equals to 'traditional' medical practitioners.
Salary Information
According to Salary.Com, www.salary.com, a licensed dietician or nutritionist can earn over $80,000 per year depending upon their education, professional experience, and job responsibilities. A holistic dietician or nutritionist can expect to earn a salary of up to $40,000 per year. The large difference in earnings can be attributed to the reluctance of more prominent hospitals and clinics to hire holistic health care workers, instead relying upon more traditional methods of healing. This is expected to change in the future, as patients demand more options and control over their care.
Degree Specifics
Required Courses
Students enrolled in a bachelor of holistic nutrition can expect to take a variety of courses that focus upon the uses of alternative foods and medicines. Possible course topics include:
- Herbology and Horticulture
- Nutrition and Diet
- Vegetarianism, Veganism, and other Alternative Diets
- The Origins and Uses of Alternative Medicine
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- The Nature of Disease and Illness
- Professional Ethics and Responsibilities
- Aromatherapy and Other Sensual Treatments
- Diet Planning
- Healing Foods
Skills Learned
Graduates of a holistic nutrition bachelor's degree program will find that they are able to apply many of the lessons taught in the classroom to professional situations. Some of the practical skills learned in the degree program include:
- Ability to tailor a realistic diet and nutrition plan to a client's individual needs
- Knowledge of which herbs, vegetables, and other nutrients can be used in healing
- Understand the advantages and limitations of traditional medicine as well as the advantages and limitations of holistic nutrition and healing
- Identify and diagnose common ailments and determine whether a holistic course of treatment is best
- Understand the responsibilities and laws that apply to all healthcare workers
- A thorough understanding of the human body's makeup and structures
- Determining when manmade nutritional supplements are called for and when nutrients are best absorbed through natural foods
