Joshua Rosenthal, the CEO and founder of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) defines a health coach as…
“A guide and a supportive mentor who empowers clients to take responsibility for their health and achievement of personal wellness goals.”
While dietary nutrition is discussed with a health coach, there’s a larger focus on non-food forms of nourishment like career, relationships, physical activity, and spirituality. A health coach will assess a client’s overall wellbeing and together come up with recommendations to help enact basic health-supportive modifications.
A health coach can help with:
- Weight management
- Maintaining or improving health following surgery or treatment
- Feeding your family healthy and nutritious meals
- Menu support and food preparation
- Behavioural choices which impact our health
- Food cravings
- Sleep and energy levels
- Stress management
- Digestion problems or irregularities
- Gut health
- Inflammation
- and so much more!
The difference between health coach and a doctor/nutritionist and a health coach…
A very important thing to note is that a health coach is NOT a doctor or nutritionist. Sure, an experienced and well-read health coach may know a lot but they are not in a position to diagnose you. They may have their ideas, but should work alongside health professionals or be used as a preventative measure for some health problems, not as the be all and end all. Integrative Nutrition Health Coaches know how to live in a healthy manner, incorporate health foods and exercise, and help people find balance.
Who needs a health coach?
A health coach can benefit anyone. If you feel as though your health isn’t optimal physically, mentally and/or emotionally, a health coach is a great partner and team mate to have.