Dietitan

A dietitian is a health care professional who focuses on proper food and nutrition in order to promote good health. They supervise the preparation and service of food, develop modified diets, participate in research, and educate individuals and groups on good nutritional habits. The goals of dietitians are to provide medical nutritional intervention, and to obtain, safely prepare, serve and advise on flavorsome, attractive, and nutritious food for patients, groups and communities. Dietary modification to address medical issues involving dietary intake is a major part of dietetics (the study of nutrition as it relates to health). For example, working in consultation with physicians and other health care providers, a dietitian may provide specific artificial nutritional needs to patients unable to consume food normally.

What is the difference between a dietician and a nutritionist?

A Dietician has a BSc or BS honours degree from a university, and is registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa. Dieticians are trained medical professionals, knowledgeable in how disease processes affect nutritional status.
A Nutritionist does not necessarily have a medical degree: he/she may have done a course in nutrition, or may simply be interested in the field. Nutritionists are not required to be registered with the Health Professionals Council, and their fees are not covered by most medical aids.

How can a dietician help?

Dietary advice and counseling can be useful for all of the following conditions, and more:

Allergies and intolerances

• Food allergies (wheat free, dairy free, soya free, egg free, nut free etc.)
• Fructose intolerance
• Lactose intolerance

Cardiovascular problems

• Elevated cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels

Endocrine problems

• Diabetes (insulin and non-insulin dependence)
• Thyroid disorders: hypo- and hyperthyroidism

Gastroenterology

• Coeliac disease
• Constipation in both children and adults
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Reflux
• Nutritional support following GIT surgery
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Crohn's Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Stomas

General Nutritional problems

• Healthy eating advice for both children & adults
• Hypoglycaemia
• Anaemia
• Vegetarian diets

Maternal and child health

• ADHD
• Breast-feeding
• Nutritional management for underweight infants and children. Ketogenic diet for epilepsy in children
• Pregnancy: advice for healthy eating, and nutritional management of problems (constipation, reflux etc)
• Toddlers: advice for picky eaters, general advice for healthy eating
• Weaning: how to start and which foods to introduce

Metabolic syndrome

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Insulin resistance
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Nutritional support of patients who are chronically ill or post-surgery
• Enteral feeding (including nasogastric, PEG and sip feeds for both children and adults)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Weight gain: advice for both children and adults who are severely malnourished

Oncology

• Cancer prevention, focusing on long-term lifestyle changes
• Nutritional management of problems during cancer treatment with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
• Neutropaenic diets for patients with low white cell counts

Renal disorders

• Dietary management of people with chronic renal failure who are not receiving dialysis
• Adaptations of diets for people on dialysis
• Nutritional management of Nephrotic syndrome and other kidney disorders

Rheumatology

• Arthritis: rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Osteoporosis

Sports Nutrition

• Nutritional advice for specific sports
• Training and competition nutrition

Weight Loss

• Personalised assessment and dietary counselling for overweight children and adults
• Advice includes tips for shopping, eating out and recipe adaptation, as well as other important lifestyle changes