I am primarily a sports nutritionist, BUT I am a big supporter of the idea of holistic nutrition. Unfortunately the industry often appears as a joke when compared to research proven sports nutrition. Through this blog I hope to separate the garbage from truth and set the record straight when it comes to holistic nutrition.
For those of you who aren’t aware of what holistic nutrition is; according to Holistichealthandme.com, holistic nutrition is “looking at a person as a whole – attempting to bring balance to all areas of the person’s life by observing dietary intake, supplements and lifestyle”.
The first problem with the holistic industry is that many of the leading experts and researchers in the industry have no more than a BA and some letters following their name. However, almost every university-employed head of research in a sports nutrition department has their PhD.
For example, at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition there are 10 research documents listed, 9 by an author with a BA and one without any degree listed. In contrast, the International Society of Sports Nutrition has a journal with about 300 open access peer-reviewed papers. Their editorial staff consists of 9 editors all with PhD’s.
This leads me to the second problem with the industry. Holistic nutrition has relatively little research backing up their claims. The peer-reviewed research that does involve holistic nutrition’s focus has come about from medical/clinical research, which the holistic nutrition industry has adopted. Again, the sports nutrition industry has countless peer-reviewed papers investigating the direct link between nutrition and performance.
My third point is, that the research done by the clinical nutrition industry has been used out of context by the holistic industry because of the lack of their own effective research that directly addresses their issues. Because of their lack of research, the industry can, and has, made claims about our health without properly proving it. Therefore, both valid and invalid claims exist within this industry, with little way for the public to tell between the two.
Like I said at the start, I am a supporter of the holistic concept, but the industry has a long way to go.
The first problem with the holistic industry is that many of the leading experts and researchers in the industry have no more than a BA and some letters following their name. However, almost every university-employed head of research in a sports nutrition department has their PhD.
For example, at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition there are 10 research documents listed, 9 by an author with a BA and one without any degree listed. In contrast, the International Society of Sports Nutrition has a journal with about 300 open access peer-reviewed papers. Their editorial staff consists of 9 editors all with PhD’s.
This leads me to the second problem with the industry. Holistic nutrition has relatively little research backing up their claims. The peer-reviewed research that does involve holistic nutrition’s focus has come about from medical/clinical research, which the holistic nutrition industry has adopted. Again, the sports nutrition industry has countless peer-reviewed papers investigating the direct link between nutrition and performance.
My third point is, that the research done by the clinical nutrition industry has been used out of context by the holistic industry because of the lack of their own effective research that directly addresses their issues. Because of their lack of research, the industry can, and has, made claims about our health without properly proving it. Therefore, both valid and invalid claims exist within this industry, with little way for the public to tell between the two.
Like I said at the start, I am a supporter of the holistic concept, but the industry has a long way to go.