Your wellness should not be someone’s side hustle
Learn more about how to make the most of social media and wellness in Molly’s interview with registered dietitian and social media expert Maria Sylvester Terry in Molly’s FUELED Wellness + Nutrition Podcast, including insights and strategies self-protection and self-preservation, how to spot non-experts claiming expertise on social media and how to find the right nutrition and wellness expert for you.
Our health is top of mind these days – all the more reason that your wellness should not be someone’s side hustle. Social media can be a brilliantly valuable tool for inspiring wellness content, but unfortunately, social can also connect us with less-than-expert “experts” who can lead us down a path that may be well-intentioned but can be detrimental to our whole-body wellness.
Here are 3 key steps to avoid wellness misinformation and ensure that you’re getting the care and attention to you deserve:
Ask about credentials // When evaluating the wellness experts you’re following – both on social & in real life – start by looking at their credentials. If you don’t see them, ask for them. Do they have any credentials? And if so, are they legitimate credentials or are they a self-proclaimed ‘expert’?
Find out how much have they invested in their education // Regardless of the type of wellness information you’re looking for – e.g. nutrition, mental health, acupuncture, yoga or more – find out just how much an individual has invested in their education.
Avoid non-experts who claim expertise // Personal experience does not make an expert. Do not equate someone’s inspiring story with expertise. What works for them personally doesn’t necessarily work for you or me. A red flag for non-experts claiming expertise: It’s all about them, not you. Their posts and their focus are centered on their worlds.
FINDING THE RIGHT NUTRITION + WELLNESS EXPERT FOR YOU
A true expert will help you to navigate the grey area; will provide the expertise to give you sustainable tools and guide toward progress, not perfection.
RD or RDN | Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.
Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
NDCHES® | Certified Health Education Specialist. The CHES® (pronounced chez) designation signifies that an individual who has met required academic eligibility with courses in health education and has met experience requirements in the health education field, has successfully passed a comprehensive written examination and maintains an ongoing commitment to advanced-level continuing education and professional development.
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