9 minutes read
Evidence Based
An image of the Author and Top Nutrition Coaching nutritionist, Nicolette
Nicolette Star Maggiolo, RD, LDN

What Is a Holistic Nutritionist?

9 minutes read
Evidence Based
An image of the Author and Top Nutrition Coaching nutritionist, Nicolette
Nicolette Star Maggiolo, RD, LDN

What Is a Holistic Nutritionist?

An image of the Author and Top Nutrition Coaching nutritionist, Nicolette
Nicolette Star Maggiolo, RD, LDN

What Is a Holistic Nutritionist?

Have you tried everything to reach your health goals, but nothing seems to work? Maybe you tried something new that seemed to work initially, but your results did not last. Looking for the best solution for your health concerns can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like you've tried everything and nothing works or lasts. 

A holistic nutritionist focuses on overall health, with an emphasis on natural foods and products for lasting results, no matter what main health goals you've set for yourself. A certified holistic nutritionist can help you reach optimal health by incorporating holistic nutrition focuses on your journey to a healthy lifestyle. Holistic nutritionists can help patients no matter the health goals they have set for themselves. A holistic nutritionist can help you reach your health goals by listening to your needs and creating a holistic plan. 

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The Bottom Line:

  • How can a holistic nutritionist help? – A holistic nutritionist provides individualized plans designed to have a therapeutic impact on the body — both physically and mentally.
  • What are the benefits of working with a holistic nutritionist? – Working with a holistic nutritionist makes your wellness goals more reachable. They can recommend meals and daily routines that remove stress and improve your quality of life, all tailored to you.
  • Am I a good candidate to work with a holistic nutritionist? – Anyone can benefit from working with a holistic nutritionist. If you’re looking to improve your overall health, consider working with a holistic nutritionist.

Ready to match with a nutritionist? Get started today!

How Can a Holistic Nutritionist Help?

Conventional nutritionists mainly focus on the physical aspect of your health. In contrast, a holistic nutritionist focuses on how your physical health can impact your mental and emotional health. While both holistic and conventional nutritionists have the same goal, the two types of nutritionists may help you reach your goals differently. 

A holistic nutritionist will typically focus on natural and therapeutic nutrition methods and how these methods impact the entire body. Holistic nutritionists will include holistic principles focusing on raw foods while avoiding processed foods. A conventional nutritionist will likely focus on how certain foods interact with your body. Still, conventional nutritionists won't be as concerned with the impact these foods have on your emotional and mental well-being the way a holistic nutritionist will be. 

Most nutritionists and dietitians focus on helping their clients reach their health goals. Holistic nutritionists help clients by incorporating a wellness routine that implements a whole-person perspective. They can help you achieve optimal health by teaching you how to develop healthy habits and proper nutrition. A holistic nutritionist uses holistic nutrition to analyze your physical, emotional, and mental health to determine the best food to help you achieve overall optimal health. 

A holistic nutritionist can help you feel more in touch with your emotional and mental health by incorporating the foods that best serve your body and your needs. Holistic health is a way to use nutrition to benefit all parts of your body, not just the physical aspects of life. When you use a plan focused on holistic nutrition, approach health with an open mind to achieve the best results in your holistic health journey.

What Does a Holistic Nutritionist Do? 

Holistic nutritionists heal patients by considering an individual's unique nutritional needs and creating specific health plans just for them. They are not just concerned with your physical health but on how your activities and eating habits\s affect your overall being, including your mental and emotional welfare. 

For a holistic nutritionist, helping their client involves assessing their overall health and wellness beyond nutrition's physical impact on the body. For example, a holistic nutritionist may encourage you to eat whole foods, keep a symptom journal, and encourage you to look for joy in your life. Holistic nutritionists may also discuss ways to prepare nutritious foods for enjoyment instead of eating healthy foods just for the physical benefits. 

The holistic nutrition industry has created an overall approach of changing health habits to improve the health of the entire body. The holistic nutrition industry has grown in recent years because of its lasting impact on people of all ages and body types. 

Read more to get an in-depth view of what a holistic nutritionist does.

What Is the Difference Between a Holistic Nutritionist vs. a Holistic Dietitian?

The roles of a holistic nutritionist and a holistic dietitian are very similar, but one significant point sets the two apart—their credentials. 

Again, a holistic nutritionist focuses on how nutrition impacts the body's physical, mental, emotional, and overall health. Holistic nutritionists help people learn what foods are best for their bodies and health goals. A holistic dietitian does all these but with a slight difference. 

A holistic dietitian typically earns different credentials to help their clients. A holistic dietitian may be equipped to help people with clinical conditions because of their training, education, and credentials. Holistic dietitians may observe any symptoms their clients have and can give their clients a diagnosis based on their observations. This can be helpful for anyone worried they could have underlying conditions. 

Overall, these holistic nutrition professionals help their clients use food to heal their bodies,  although they do so with different degrees of qualifications.

What are the Credentials of a Holistic Nutritionist?

There are several steps that a person must complete to become a holistic nutritionist. 

Education

First, they must build a strong foundation of nutritional knowledge about how nutrition impacts the body. Holistic nutritionists must also have a deep understanding of how to create individualized plans to best help their clients. A strong foundation of nutritional knowledge will help these nutritionists give their clients specific food and lifestyle plans to help their clients reach their goals. 

Some holistic nutritionists may choose to complete a nutrition program at the university level and supplement their education with classes focused only on holistic nutrition. Holistic nutritionists should build a strong foundation of general nutrition knowledge before learning the specifics of holistic nutrition.

Work experience

Aspiring holistic nutritionists will also complete a substantial amount of hours of work experience, and this work experience will likely be in holistic nutrition. Work hours in holistic nutrition give students real-world experience working with clients. 

The work hours will be essential to developing skills that students lean on when growing their practical nutritional knowledge in holistic nutrition. A holistic nutritionist develops healthy habits that benefit the entire body, however, every patient is different, with specific requirements, habits, and dietary restrictions..

Pass the exam

Lastly, holistic nutritionists must pass an exam offered by the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board to officially become board-certified holistic nutritionists. Students who pass this exam have demonstrated that they have a firm grasp on their nutrition knowledge and can adequately help their clients achieve optimal health. 

The credentials ensure that every client working with a holistic nutritionist receives detailed, relevant health information that will positively impact their overall health. 

Holistic nutritionists may choose to pursue a master's degree, certification programs, internships, or other courses to further their knowledge and best help their clients, but these are not required.

The Benefits of Working with a Holistic Nutritionist

Many holistic nutritionist clients can attest to the benefits of working with a holistic nutritionist, including for the reasons listed below.

Stress reduction

Because holistic nutritionists focus on a client's overall health, many holistic nutritionist clients experience a reduction in stress in their daily lives. Holistic nutritionists help clients understand and address the stress in their lives. 

Holistic nutritionists teach the techniques to help their clients face stress head on and overcome it. When a person has less stress, they experience better regulation of hormones, peace of mind, and an overall better quality of life.

Decreased inflammation

Holistic nutritionists know the best nutrition to help decrease inflammation. Holistic nutritionists can recommend certain foods to limit and foods to consume to help reduce painful inflammation. 

In addition to recommending specific foods, holistic nutritionists can also recommend other ways to decrease inflammation, like exercises, better sleeping practices, and more.

Overall health and wellness

Working with a holistic nutritionist can help you take charge of your health in ways you didn't think were possible. A holistic nutrition health professional will help you approach holistic health in a way that improves many aspects of your life, including weight management, if you struggle to gain or lose weight. 

Holistic nutritionists give each client nutritional advice specific to their bodies and wellness needs. This nutritional advice will include a client's health issues and health history to best help each client achieve optimal health wellness throughout the body. Holistic nutritionists also teach the best foods for their bodies by offering nutrition guidance.

Am I a Candidate to Work with a Holistic Nutritionist?

While working with a holistic nutritionist has many benefits, you may wonder if you're a good candidate to work with a holistic nutritionist. Found out below if you qualify. 

To prevent chronic conditions 

You may work with a holistic nutritionist to lower your risks of developing chronic conditions. Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension can have a significant negative impact on a person's life. These health issues can be costly and create dangerous conditions for your overall health. 

Chronic conditions can cause unnecessary stressors in your life. A holistic nutritionist can help by providing nutrition coaching backed by nutrition science to improve any chronic conditions or prevent them from developing. Not only can a holistic nutritionist recommend healthy food to improve your blood sugar, blood pressure, and more, but they can also recommend nutrition that encourages lower stress levels. 

Holistic nutritionists work with each client to determine not only a healthy diet but also ways to slow or prevent chronic conditions from developing. Learning optimal nutrition for your body can help decrease risk factors for developing these dangerous conditions.

To improve your overall health

A holistic nutritionist can also help you improve your overall health by decreasing stress in your life. They can also help you take your health into your control and use holistic nutrition principles to teach you the best ways to improve your overall health. A holistic nutrition professional can help you learn and can improve your overall health and wellness with nutrition, lifestyle changes, and other practices that can positively impact your life. 

A certified nutrition professional has the best information to help each client improve their holistic health in ways that other nutritionists can't. Holistic nutrition professionals can help increase energy levels, improve digestion, improve heart health, improve blood sugar levels, improve brain function, and more.

To improve your understanding of nutrition

Holistic nutrition professionals will give you the nutritional information you need to reach your goals and maintain success. Holistic nutrition professionals will not keep their knowledge to themselves like guarded secrets. Instead, these professionals will share their expertise with clients to help their clients in many ways. 

When clients understand nutrition and how nutrition interacts with their bodies better, these clients can better maintain their health goals long-term. Holistic nutrition professionals give their clients information that is specific, targeted, and helpful to the client's specific health needs.

Holistic Nutritionists are on standby to meet you! Start your search for a holistic nutritionist today – take the quiz.

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An image of the Author and Top Nutrition Coaching nutritionist, Nicolette
Nicolette Star Maggiolo, RD, LDN
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Top Nutrition Coaching’s Annual Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship

Scholarship award: $1000
The Top Nutrition Coaching First-Gen Futures Scholarship is a quarterly recurring scholarship open to all first-generation students whose parents did not receive a four-year bachelor’s degree. The next deadline to apply is October  1, and winners will be announced on October 31.
Learn More
A family outdoors: a boy, a smiling woman, a man in military attire with a toddler, and a grinning young man.

About the first-gen futures scholarship

Scholarship award available for both college and high school students
Being the first in your family to attend college is an inspiring feat, often with its own unique challenges. First-generation students may not have the same guidance in navigating parts of the higher education system as other students, such as the application process, obtaining financial aid, and even what to expect in college itself.

Financial constraints can also be a significant roadblock for such students, which may limit their choices, force them to balance jobs, family responsibilities, and school work all at once, and make the college experience much more stressful.

Despite these struggles, first-generation college students have proven time and again to be extremely resilient, determined, and hard-working. They embody a spirit of ambition and perseverance as they work toward creating the future they want for themselves and their families.

The First-Gen Futures Scholarship aims to recognize and support exceptional students who are overcoming the barriers of being the first in their families to attend college. By providing financial assistance to deserving individuals, we seek to alleviate some financial stress so that these students can focus more on their studies.

Previous Top Nutrition Coaching scholarship winners

The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Mayci H.
Awarded:
$500
On:
October 12, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Jordan C.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 20, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Bethanie S.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 27, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Romeo G.
Awarded:
$500
On:
February 8, 2023
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Ian C.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 28, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Kristopher W.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 14, 2022
Scholarship details:
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Amount: $1,000
Winner Announcement Date: October 31
Recurring: Quarterly
Read FAQ
6
Scholarships Awarded
6
Winners
$6,000
Total Awards
Eligibility requirements:
A white icon of a plus sign within a circle, used as a button to expand content.
To qualify for this scholarship, please review the following eligibility criteria carefully. Ensure you meet these requirements prior to submitting your application.
A first-generation college student (meaning neither of their parents has obtained a four-year college degree)
A high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
Applicant must be a current U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
How to Apply:
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You can apply for this scholarship on the Bold.org scholarship platform. Follow the directions and submit your application for the First-Gen Futures Scholarship, along with a short essay answering the following prompts:
Why have you chosen to pursue higher education?
How have you prepared yourself for college as a first-generation student?
Scholarship frequently asked questions:
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When is the scholarship deadline?
The application will be open through October 1.
What is the scholarship prize? 
The scholarship award is $1,000.
When will the winner be chosen and notified?
Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. Recipients will be chosen based on the merit of their application. 
How will the scholarship be paid?
The prize check will be sent to the scholarship winner’s college institution in their name and in the name of their institution (depending on the school’s requirements).
Is this a recurring scholarship?
Yes, the First-Gen Futures Scholarship is a quarterly scholarship.
How will my scholarship application be verified?
A high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
How can I get in touch with questions?
If you have any questions about this scholarship, please email hello@topnutritioncoaching.com, and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.
How will my application information be used?
Top Nutrition Coaching manages this scholarship with the support of the Bold.org scholarship platform. Bold.org takes student confidentiality and privacy incredibly seriously. Please refer to the application page on Bold.org for full details.

Top Nutrition Coaching’s Annual Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship

Scholarship award: $1000
The Top Nutrition Coaching Annual Hero's Legacy Scholarship is open to any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident and the child of at least one parent who has served in the U.S. military. The next deadline to apply is April 1st, 2025, and winners will be announced on May 1st, 2025.
Learn More
A family outdoors: a boy, a smiling woman, a man in military attire with a toddler, and a grinning young man.

About the Annual Hero's Legacy Scholarship

Scholarship award available for both college and high school students
Military families embody resilience, strength, and unwavering support for their loved ones in uniform. There are many overlooked sacrifices they make that should be recognized and rewarded. Military families endure extended deployments, adjust to new environments, and face uncertainty on a frequent basis.

The children of military families often adapt to new schools and environments, embodying the values of adaptability and perseverance, and experience the emotional toll of their loved one being deployed in dangerous situations.

The Heroes' Legacy Scholarship is a tribute to the extraordinary dedication and sacrifice of military families who stand alongside their loved ones in service to our country. Unfortunately, there are many struggles that military families endure while a parent or guardian serves in the armed forces.

In recognition of the burden higher education can place on military families, this scholarship seeks to give back to these dedicated families to honor their sacrifices.

Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident and the child of at least one parent who has served in the U.S. military may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us about your experience as the child of a military parent.

Previous Top Nutrition Coaching scholarship winners

The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Mayci H.
Awarded:
$500
On:
October 12, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Jordan C.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 20, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Bethanie S.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 27, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Romeo G.
Awarded:
$500
On:
February 8, 2023
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Ian C.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 28, 2022
The image features a profile icon of a young Caucasian woman with long blonde hair, styled in loose waves. She is wearing makeup with prominent lipstick and is smiling. She has a badge overlay indicating that she is a scholarship recipient, marked by a medal symbol to denote achievement or honor.
Kristopher W.
Awarded:
$500
On:
December 14, 2022
Scholarship details:
A white icon of a plus sign within a circle, used as a button to expand content.
Amount: $1,000
Winner Announcement Date: May 1st, 2025
Recurring: Quarterly
Read FAQ
6
Scholarships Awarded
6
Winners
$6,000
Total Awards
Eligibility requirements:
A white icon of a plus sign within a circle, used as a button to expand content.
To qualify for this scholarship, please review the following eligibility criteria carefully. Ensure you meet these requirements prior to submitting your application.
Family Background: At least one parent has served in the U.S. military
A high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student
Applicant must be a current U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
How to Apply:
A white icon of a plus sign within a circle, used as a button to expand content.
You can apply for this scholarship on the Bold.org scholarship platform. Follow the directions and submit your application for the Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship, along with a short essay answering the following prompt:
Tell us about your experience as the child of a parent in the military.
Scholarship frequently asked questions:
A white icon of a plus sign within a circle, used as a button to expand content.
When is the scholarship deadline?
The application deadline is April 1st, 2025. Winners will be announced on May 1st, 2025.
What is the scholarship prize? 
The scholarship award is $1,000.
When will the winner be chosen and notified?
Your privacy is a top priority on the Bold.org platform, and you can find our privacy policy in full here. You may opt out of communications from Bold.org at any time, and unless we’ve first notified you and gotten your consent, you’ll never receive communication from any third parties related to personal information you give us.
How will the scholarship be paid?
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Is this a recurring scholarship?
Yes, the Hero's Legacy Scholarship is a  Annual scholarship.
How will my scholarship application be verified?
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
How can I get in touch with questions?
If you have any questions about this scholarship, please email hello@topnutritioncoaching.com, and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.
How will my application information be used?
Top Nutrition Coaching manages this scholarship with the support of the Bold.org scholarship platform. Bold.org takes student confidentiality and privacy incredibly seriously. Please refer to the application page on Bold.org for full details.