Which Should You Choose for Improving Your Overall Health & Well-Being?
Are you confused about whether to visit a health coach or a nutritionist because you are unsure who will address your needs well? Both help when it comes to diet issues; however, their focus and approach are what differ. Therefore, to understand who will address your needs properly, let’s look at their specification areas, how they work, and their main point of difference. Understanding this is vital since you will be sure who will engage to help you achieve your wellness goals.
What’s the work of a health coach?
A health coach is a supportive mentor who is always there to guide people on healthy diets and lifestyle choices like the types of exercise one should indulge in to improve their overall wellness. Maybe you are approaching obesity and want to lose weight and get fitter or create a more balanced life; you should consult a health coach because this is their main area of specialization, and they will guide you accordingly. Healthy coaches undertake specialized training to learn body problem solving, accountability, and how to motivate. Their clients to remain physically and emotionally fit.
Also, it’s very convenient to work or consult a health coach because of the flexible nature of their work. You can opt to work with them on a one-to-one basis or online through a group coaching program. It is always advisable to consult a health coach, especially if you are unsure what diet or exercise is right for your body type. This is so because they train well to address lifestyle factors, mentor people on diet issues, and choose the proper fitness regime that suits their needs.
The history of health coaching
Healthy coaching has been there since the early 1990s; however, it was not as popular as now. Over the past five years, healthy coaching started gaining momentum and has skyrocketed, attracting the attention of many people to start pursuing it as their main career. This profession has gained more popularity recently because there has been a health crisis worldwide, and more people are looking for possible solutions to contain the situation. Also, this profession keeps on growing and allows more room for learning and looking for possible solutions, which leads to an increase in skills.
Qualifications of a health coach
The main area of working of health coaches is to help clients to cultivate a healthier lifestyle by addressing their needs through:
- Analyzing the client’s recent health conditions
- Creating health goals for their clients and helping them to attain them
- Providing counseling services
- Documenting the client’s progress while screening their behavioral health progress
Therefore, to work as a qualified health coach, one must undergo proper schooling and attain a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, counseling, nursing, or health care disciplines. Although most organizations recommend a bachelor’s degree going further into your studies, a healthy coach exposes. You to many situations and thus intensifying your skills.
Pros and cons of a health coach
Pros
- There is privacy, unlike going to the gym, where most people suffer anxiety, making it difficult to work out.
- Numerous pricing options in that you can opt for time-based contacts in that you pay as you are coached. Others charge based on the services they provide but are very affordable in that a simple workout plan will cost less than a meal plan.
- Flexibility and conveniences in that you have a personal trainee with you, and they are ready to attend to you whenever you need them.
Cons
- You might meet underqualified coaches because it is hard to tell if the coach is certified and has undergone proper schooling
- Limited accountability: If there is no proper communication between the health coach and client. It becomes hard to account for their progress.
What’s the work of a nutritionist?
Unlike the health coach who focuses on body fitness, the nutritionists are more specialized in food, diet, and nutrition. They train to assess the health needs of their clients and provide them with the appropriate diet that will suit their needs. They educate their clients to create healthy eating habits and cook foods. That will not cause health problems to their bodies. Also, this is a diverse career because the nutritionist works in various settings, including the food industry, sports, and private sectors, as consultants.
History of nutritionists
Nutritionists have been there since 400 BC as a Greek physician Hippocrates who was the father of medicine, said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” These allegiances were made because the physician knew that the type of food that one consumes impacts their body and mind, thus helping prevent illness. The profession has been there for a long time and has been facing more advancements. Since the enlightenment, and in the Victorian age, scientists and medical experts have investigated it exponentially. Many of the vitamins were discovered in the 20th century. From there, nutritionist started gaining much popularity and, with the continued demands, has fueled and provided more career opportunities than ever.
Qualifications of a nutritionist
Typically, anyone who wants to become a nutritionist must complete a degree in nutrition or any related discipline. But basically, they need to be well conversant with a variety of duties and tasks like:
- Planning and implementing diets and meal plans
- Monitoring the client’s progress while they are on a diet
- Calculating nutrition values in the food components that clients consume and many more
Pros and cons of a nutritionist
Pros
- There is a good salary and more room for career expansion
- You can work in a diverse area that requires a nutritionist, and thus there is sufficient workflow
- Their main role is to help people become healthy, thus creating a healthy world.
Cons
- The career requires a narrow understanding of nutrition
- A nutritionist is not a legally protected title
Using DNA health testing to improve your wellness
DNA testing programs for health are used to supplement health coaches and nutritionists in helping people learn about themselves from the comfort of their homes at a minimal expense. These toolkits have gained massive popularity recently as people are more curious to understand their ancestry and genetic health. Even though the genetic toolkits provide valuable information about your genetics. When the DNA test results are used to develop a plan for improving well-being, one likely needs the help of nutritionists and health coaches. The DNA health tests could be used to provide details more about optimizing nutrition, exercise, and overall wellbeing, while the health coach and/or nutritionist can use this information for the client to provide ongoing guidance and adherence to the personalized diet or workout plan.
Also, there are numerous methods on how one could leverage their genetics to improve health and performance, making it overwhelming to know which one will work best for your body; thus, that’s why it is mandatory to look for guidance from a nutritionist and health coach. Some products will give you a complete package like ancestry and disease risk factors. But eliminate the macronutrient ratios and other vital information for health and fitness.
Understanding your nutrient needs is the first step in creating a healthy lifestyle, and a good DNA health test will give you an exploration of this. Once the DNA test results are out, the health coach and nutritionist will advise accordingly on how to go about the results. The best thing about DNA health testing is that they are very affordable in that you can conduct a test for as little as $15 per month, depending on the nature and complexity of the test.