What are some of the popular complementary health care approaches?

Wellness is an important issue among Americans, particularly millennials, 80 percent of whom prioritize healthfulness over financial security, according to research from TD Bank. While most of these individuals access conventional medical treatments as part of their health regimens, many also take advantage of complementary services, or lifestyle-centered offerings designed to accompany traditional care and facilitate holistic body and mind maintenance. A few complementary health care services are particularly popular with the wellness conscious:

Health coaching

Even the most disciplined and knowledgeable health enthusiasts need help developing and maintaining lifestyle habits that boost their wellness. This is where health coaches contribute, leveraging evidence-based tools and techniques to help people everywhere develop customized plans that address everything from eating to exercise. The advantages that can come with working with a health coach include fewer doctor visits and reduced risk of disease.

Nutrition

Americans are taking steps to improve their eating habits, per analysts from the International Food Information Council Foundation, which found that almost 80 percent of citizens are attempting to remove sugary food and drinks from their diets. Those who succeed at cutting out sugar and swapping it for healthier alternatives, including the occasional dietary supplement, stand to see benefits that go far beyond weight management.

Exercise

Larger numbers of Americans are embracing exercise. In fact, more met the federal guidelines for daily aerobic exercise than ever before in 2018, according to research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical activity of this kind not only strengthens the body but also bolsters the brain, warding off mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Stress management activities

Stress is a major concern for virtually everyone, researchers for the American Psychological Association discovered. However, some generational groups are more susceptible to it — most notably millennials and Generation Zers, many of whom navigate stressful careers, classes and sociopolitical environments, according to the APA. Stress management activities and support gives them and other Americans the tools they need to improve their mental health.

Are you interested?

As these and other complementary services gain popularity, the need for health coaches capable of administering them grows. The ASU Bachelor of Science in Health Science program, offered 100% online, can help you gain the knowledge you need to anchor holistic health services and boost wellness at scale.

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Sources:

ASU Online — Online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (Healthy Lifestyles Coaching)
Millennials Choose Wealth Over Health by TD Bank
2018 Food and Health Survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation
FastStats: Exercise or Physical Activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Stress in America by the American Psychological Association