A new course on dietetics is being introduced at the Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (CCIH), under the aegis of the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). This was declared by director Dr Bhushan Patwardhan at a press conference this week.
“From this academic year, as approved by the academic council, we are going to introduce a new course called ‘Integrative Dietetics’, under SPPU. Students, many professionals, and doctors have shown interest in this discipline,” he stated.
Dietetics is a branch of medical science which elaborates the influences and effects of diet towards health through practical application of a scientific understanding of nutrition.
Dr Patwarshan, however, shared that unlike the common approach towards dietetics, this particular course is to have an Ayurvedic approach. “How Ayurveda looks at diet and understands its complications and provides sustainable solutions for better health is fascinating and we want to know that through this line of discourse. I feel most of the students or rather the first batch of students coming for this course will be practising doctors and dietitians,” he said.
He claims that this course is a first of its kind in India, “I believe, there is nothing like Integrative dietetics being done in India, because the existing pedagogy of nutrition and dietetics offered across nutrition schools rather has a strong biomedical approach. However, there is something more to concepts of proximate principles and calories. The individual, psychological, cultural, geographical, and environmental conditions are known to play a crucial role in food, nutrition and the practice of dietetics, especially compliance to dietary advice.”
{{/usCountry}}He claims that this course is a first of its kind in India, “I believe, there is nothing like Integrative dietetics being done in India, because the existing pedagogy of nutrition and dietetics offered across nutrition schools rather has a strong biomedical approach. However, there is something more to concepts of proximate principles and calories. The individual, psychological, cultural, geographical, and environmental conditions are known to play a crucial role in food, nutrition and the practice of dietetics, especially compliance to dietary advice.”
{{/usCountry}}“Better understanding of emerging role of gut microbiome, nutrigenomics and epigenetics are bound to influence practice of dietetics. From an Indian perspective dietetics needs to be understood comprehensively linking material and biological attributes based on our local foods, culture, traditions and basic principles of Ayurveda,” he added.
“Ayurvedic food science, Epistemology, had profound senses of concepts like prakriti, dhatu, agni, ama, dravya, guna, rasa which relates food to the holistic well being of an individual and gives an intricate understanding of health and disease. It uses food for prevention and treatment of diseases. Proper understanding of this can help clinicians, nutritionists and dietitians in disease prevention, management, and health promotion in the best interest of public health,” he added.
Eligibility:
Applicants should have a graduate or a post graduate degree in nutrition, dietetics or any branch of medicine, public health, health sciences.
Research students harbouring interest in nutrition and dietetics can also apply.
Basic knowledge of food and nutrition sciences, human biology, biochemistry, and/or physiology is required for admission.
Number of seats: 25
A written test and / or interview may be introduced for admissions.
Fees: As per University Rules