Beyond the Plate: How Nutrition Impacts Your Overall Health

Did you know?

A recent survey from the American Gastroenterological Association revealed that nearly 40% of Americans have limited their daily activities due to digestive issues.*

Let’s explore how improving your gut health through diet can transform your overall health.

The Gut-Health Connection: Fueling Your Well-being

What you eat directly impacts how you feel—it’s not just a saying; it’s a fundamental truth. If you’re feeling sluggish, experiencing digestive issues, or just not at your best, the answer might be on your plate. A well-balanced diet and a healthy gut are cornerstones of vibrant well-being and play a critical role in preventative care.

Discover how nourishing your body from the inside out with the right foods can transform your health and fuel your body and mind.

Gut health can impact your health in many ways, including:

Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can lead to autoimmune diseases and obesity.

Your Immune System

An unhealthy gut increases the risk of infections and disease.

Weight Management

A gut bacteria imbalance can contribute to weight gain.

Skin Health

Imbalances can cause conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Mental Health

Imbalances can lead to mood disorders (anxiety and depression).

Energy Levels

An unhealthy gut can lead to fatigue.

Nourishing Your Body: Practical Tips

Improving your digestion starts with good gut health. This entails adding the right types and varieties of foods to your diet, controlling portion sizes, staying active, and being mindful of your body’s signals after eating.

Here are some specific tips:

One man doing guided meditation yoga self care practice at home

Focus on Fiber

Load up on fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Variety is Key

Include a colorful array of fruits and vegetables to ensure you’re getting a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

Woman outside on a yoga mat meditating with laptop in front of her

Portion Control

Use smaller plates and bowls. Measure your portions to get a better sense of how much you’re eating. Be mindful of hunger cues and avoid overeating.

Stay Active

Regular physical activity supports healthy digestion and overall well-being.

Mindful Eating

Pay attention to how your body feels after eating. Avoid eating too quickly and allow your body time to digest.

Supporting a healthy gut starts with a nourishing morning meal, as this sets the stage for efficient digestion and nutrient absorption throughout the day.

Want to learn how to make the most of your breakfast to benefit your gut and overall well-being? Download our Build a Better Breakfast guide.

Inside, you’ll discover why protein and fiber are so important for sustained energy and a healthy gut ecosystem, along with delicious recipes to help you incorporate them.

Additional Resources

Cooking & Nutrition Hub

Find tools and resources for your journey toward better health and well-being.

Hub Access

Recipe Library

Devour delicious and nutritious recipes the whole family will love.

View Recipes

Class/Event Calendar

Feel more confident in the kitchen by attending a virtual or in-person session on healthy eating or cooking.

Calendar

VEBA Blog

Explore numerous articles related to cooking, nutrition, and overall wellness, including articles on gut health.

Blog Posts

Preventative Care Screenings Infographic

Refer to this resource to find out what screenings you need based on your age.

PDF Infographic

Appointment Ready: Doctor’s Visit Prep Guide

This resource provides tools and information to get the most out of your visit to your healthcare provider.

Guide PDF

Need More Support?

Care Navigation – Start your nutritional wellness journey by meeting with a Care Navigator, a Registered Holistic Nurse. Together, you will create a customized strategy to help you become the best version of yourself. To learn more, visit: Care Navigation.

Whole Health Coaching – Get support and guidance for healthy eating and overall wellness with this comprehensive six-session program. Led by trained coaches, you’ll develop a personalized plan that focuses on goal setting, behavior change, and habit formation. Visit Whole Health Coaching to get started.

Benefits Information/Assistance – Reach out to The California Schools VEBA Advocacy Team if you have questions about your benefits. Contact The Advocacy Team at 888-276-0250 Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm PST or fill out the contact form here.

*Source: American Gastroenterological Association: Daily Lives Disrupted By Digestive Troubles,

Whole Health Coaching

Eight Dimensions of Wellness and Community Full Chart

Whether you’re hoping to prevent or help treat chronic diseases, want more energy, or simply want to enjoy your life more, taking care of your mind and body is the key.

Taking care of your health is essential for feeling better in your body. Although it can take time to make life-changing habits, know that every small step counts. But it makes a world of difference when you have the right tools.

Between physical activity, nutrition, and other self-care tools, there can be a lot of trial and error in finding which tools are right for you. Luckily, you don’t have to do it all alone. Endless resources are available to help you learn how to better care for yourself.

Working with a health coach is an invaluable resource for taking control of your health. These trained professionals help you create an individualized plan to achieve your health and wellness goals and live up to your full potential.

Are you wondering if a Whole Health Coach is right for you? Keep reading to learn more about the process and the many benefits of working with one.

What is a Whole Health Coach?

So what exactly is a Whole Health Coach? A Whole Health Coach will hold your hand through this journey. Just like a sports coach, a Whole Health Coach is there to cheer you on while giving you actionable advice so you can achieve your goals and live up to your full potential.

At the beginning of the program, you’ll have a consultation to review your health history. After this initial review, you’ll be connected with a coach to get started, At the end of the program, you’ll meet again to review your progress.

This individualized process sets you up for success as you learn new self-care strategies. Working with a Whole Health Coach also gives you access to professional care to further support your health journey.

Benefits of working with a coach

Working with a Whole Health Coach may seem daunting or intimidating but they’re there to support you. These professionals will help you practice mindful awareness as you adopt new habits and transform your health from the inside out.

There are endless benefits to working with a Whole Health Coach. These benefits are just the tip of the iceberg:

Achieve your goals

What goals, health or otherwise, do you want to achieve? What does living to your full potential mean to you? Working with a Whole Health Coach gives you the guidance, insight, and tangible action steps to reach those goals.

These are just a few of the goals you could work towards:

Prevent chronic disease through lifestyle changes

Learn how to manage stress and overwhelm

Combat chronic fatigue and exhaustion

Feel good enough to further your career

Have more time and energy to do the things you love

You are capable of so much, but sometimes you need a little extra support to get to the next level. A Whole Health Coach will help you evaluate your personal strengths and use those to create a plan that helps you unleash your true potential.

Accountability

One of the hardest things about caring for your health is figuring out where to start. You might have an idea of what changes you’d like to make but get overwhelmed with options. Or when you start a new wellness practice, you start strong but quickly stop.

That’s what a Whole Health Coach is for. Most people need outside support and guidance to truly make a change in their lives. Your coach is there to give you personalized advice and to hold you accountable.

A Whole Health Coach is someone that you can rely on as you go through your transformation. Your coach will help you build momentum and push you to keep going because it’s what’s best for you. They’re there to back you up so you can finally put yourself first.

Get personalized advice

There is a lot of information on health and wellness available. But what works for someone on social media won’t necessarily work for you. You are an individual with unique strengths, challenges, and goals. Your health journey will reflect that.

Have you tried other wellness tools in the past that didn’t stick? It’s likely because you were missing a key piece. An effective health plan is one that’s personalized for you. You will connect with your Whole Health Coach to create a plan made just for you.

You can think of this as your “personalized path to wellness”. Your coach is there to give you unobjective advice to help you reach your goals in a way that works for you.

The health coaching process

When you work with a Whole Health Coach, you’ll go through a specific process. Working together, you’ll create a plan covering your physical well-being, emotional and mental well-being, and daily life. You’ll also identify your current priorities and develop a comprehensive plan to help you achieve your goals.

This is what the process looks like:

Program Consultation: You’ll start with a 30-minute consultation that includes a personal health inventory review and biometrics screening. This will help them gauge where you’re at and what you need to do to reach your goals.

Coaching Session 1: This is your first session with your Whole Health Coach. In this 55-minute session, you’ll work together to develop a personalized whole health plan.

Coaching sessions 2-6: You’ll continue to work with your Whole Health Coach in your next 5 sessions. During these sessions, you’ll have guided strategy discussions to help you adapt throughout the process.

Is a Whole Health Coach right for you?

Working with a Whole Health Coach is a huge step that can make a massive difference in your life. How do you know if this process is right for you?

These are a few signs that working with a Whole Health Coach is right for you:

You have a specific health goal you want to reach or a health challenge that you would like to change.

You know having a professional partner will help you be more successful so you can reach your goals.

You are ready to commit to making a change in your life.

You can feel better and actualize your wellness vision. It will take work, but you can do it with the right support system. Take the first steps towards a happier, healthier you. Learn more about the Whole Health Coaching program.