Health coaching and nutrition: Quick tips for transforming your diet
What do great athletes, gifted musicians, actors and other elite performers have in common? They often rely on coaches behind the scenes. Coaches facilitate the learning and development of another. They give advice or instruction to improve performance and help a client reach the next level.
What is health coaching?
If the world’s best rely on coaches, why are we so reluctant to turn to one for guidance on something as important as our health? According to the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), health and wellness coaches partner with clients looking to enhance their well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values. The Cleveland Clinic describes a health coach as a “cheerleader, guide, and partner” that helps you achieve wellness goals in areas such as nutrition, activity, sleep, stress management and managing health conditions, such as diabetes.
Health coaching for nutrition
March is National Nutrition Month, and it’s an ideal time to take a closer look at the benefits of health coaching and the foods that fuel a healthy lifestyle. A health coach can help focus on the role eating habits and food choices play in overall health and well-being. They can help address behaviors and beliefs about food or diet and offer strategies that can lead to successful behavior change around eating habits. These strategies can include things like:
- Teaching clients about how the body uses food to function and the role calories and macronutrients play
- Introducing life skills like meal planning, grocery shopping and cooking
Nutrition advice from a health coach
A piece of nutrition advice from Labcorp’s health coaching team: Worry less about what you should omit, limit and reduce—focus on what to add, increase and enjoy.
Consider foods that are nutrient dense, unprocessed, naturally colorful, rich in healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, protein and dietary fiber. These foods are true multitaskers: they hydrate, nourish, fight disease, provide energy, fight inflammation, lower cholesterol levels and promote gut health—and they taste great, too! Add ‘young’ foods or those that promote health and vitality. What are some examples of these super stars?
- Yogurt
- Berries
- Salmon
- Herbs
- Spinach
- Nuts
- Olive oil
- Broccoli
- Cocoa
- Oatmeal
- Garlic
- Avocados
- Mushrooms
- Halibut
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Red onion
- Pomegranate
- Flaxseeds
- Beans and lentils
- Many more!
Be your own bold health advocate. What will you add to your plate today?
Labcorp’s health coaching programs support employees on a transformative journey towards greater well-being. Our team of healthcare professionals supports participants in making positive, sustainable lifestyle changes to help them lead their best lives both inside and outside of the office. Contact us to learn more.