Discussion Board It was surprising for me to learn that there are people who get away with faking their credentials to become a nutritionist, so it was very important for me to know to take a hard look at someone’s educational background. To distinguish between real nutrition experts and suspicious imposters, people can look at their credentials and licenses. Physicians with a nutrition specialty, registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN), and registered nutrition and dietetics technicians (NDTR) are the best people to turn to for advice on nutrition, as they undergo lengthy bachelor's or master's degrees at accredited colleges, practice programs, and a national exam (Sizer & Whitney, 2019). Though credentials and licenses are a big indicator of a legit expert, some can be faked, so it is best to also look into the license people have. According to Sizer and Whitney (2019), a few tips to look out for in a phoney credential are to see the time period in which the degree was given, research if the college or program is legit, and if there is a choice of graduation dates on the diploma. In all, if there is any hint of suspicion with a person’s licenses, it is best to find someone better certified.

Since the world is heavily reliant on the Internet and social media, it is hard to determine what advice is quackery and what is reliable. Usually, quackery comes from a source with an illegitimate credential and sounds “too good to be true” (Sizer & Whitney, 2019). These sources try to promote products with no scientific evidence to back it up- but many reviews from “consumers” may say it works wonders. Quackery sounds more like an advertisement than actual guidance. Reliable information can come from (but not limited to) various health departments, government websites, research papers that are backed with scientific proof, and consumer groups.

Sizer, F. S. & Whitney E. (2019). Nutrition Concepts and controversies (15th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Question: Respond to the discussion thread post above. Share your idea what you think about what is being said.​