Q: I have recently been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The doctor just gave me a prescription but didn't talk to me about diet or even refer me to a dietitian. The medication I'm taking makes me even feel more gassy. How can I change my diet to help with my condition?

A: First of all, that's too bad that the doctor didn't refer you to a dietitian and just opted to write out a prescription. I'm not saying that the prescription isn't right for you, but a doctor should always have a dietitian to refer patients to so the patient can be educated on diet to help with their issues. Unfortunately, medications almost always have side effects, so it's always best to try to fix the condition through proper diet rather than prescribing something too soon.

Thanks to my friend Susan for this week's question.

The answer is:

A registered dietitian needs:

1) a 4 year degree in nutrition or dietetics

2) to have successfully passed a 9-12 month internship (only
internships approved by the American Dietetic Association)

3) Successful passing of a national registration test

4) Continuing education (75 hours every 5 years)

The title “Nutritionist” is not protected by law. No requirements are necessary. Unfortunately, anyone can claim they are a nutritionist even if they haven’t taken one nutrition class. This means that someone may be giving advice who is not qualified to give nutrition information.