Summary
Heart health starts with metabolism—and metabolism starts with food. Certified Metabolic Balance Coaches design nutrition plans based on your blood markers, helping you reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and restore cardiovascular health. Grounded in science and built around real food, this personalized approach helps Canadians manage or prevent heart disease naturally, supporting long-term heart and metabolic wellness.
Are you facing cardiovascular issues, chronic inflammation, high blood pressure or diabetes? If so, it may be time for you to consider engaging a Metabolic Balance Certified Coach. These certified professionals are found across Canada. Their core role is to create personalized nutrition programs grounded in science using your blood markers, health history, and food preferences to design a plan that supports lasting and positive change to your health.
This is particularly important for people with cardiovascular problems. Adopting a heart-healthy diet is a cornerstone of preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
“Something that is not widely known is that before cardiovascular disease is developed, there is very often a decline in metabolic function at hand. Most of my clients facing cardiovascular issues are insulin resistant”, explained Deborah Podema, Holistic Nutrionist, CMP (Certified Metabolic Coach) “.
Personalized plans based on science
Unlike trendy diets, a Certified Metabolic Coach such as Deborah creates a Metabolic Balance program, beginning with a detailed look at your body’s unique needs. Using 36 blood markers along with your health history and lifestyle information, your coach creates a custom “nutrition road map.”
“The most relevant blood markers for cardiovascular health in the Metabolic Balance assessment is the lipid panel – we look at both LDL and HDL cholesterol as well as the Triglycerides. If the ratio of triglycerides to HDL Cholesterol is >3, someone is likely insulin resistant (also known as having metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease or prediabetes). Metabolic Balance is one of the few programs with a proven track record to reverse metabolic syndrome, which can be a tricky process to master by yourself without expert guidance but a process that is key to restoring metabolic health and preventing cardiovascular disease long term” Podema told The Health Insider.
The goal? To help you lose weight, balance hormones, reduce inflammation and improve overall well-being by giving your body exactly what it needs to function at its best.
1:1 coaching and ongoing support
Your coach doesn’t just hand you a plan and send you off. Through ongoing one-on-one coaching sessions, they guide you through each phase to help you understand your plan, adjust to new eating patterns, and stay motivated. This personalized support helps turn short-term goals into long-term success.
“Especially after a heart event or diagnosis, things can seem scary and overwhelming, but we can always keep it simple and stick with the basics as we work on improving their Heart Health. One super easy lifestyle habit for heart health that absolutely everyone can do at any age or stage in life is to go on walks daily. I become their biggest cheerleader throughout our 1-1 time together and at the same time make sure to teach them all of the principles and habits and ‘hacks’ that they can use by themselves for the rest of their lives, so they eventually don’t need me anymore which is always bittersweet but always the end goal” said Podema.
Whole foods, real results
Metabolic Balance emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods rather than processed options. The program’s focus on natural, Canadian-available ingredients helps stabilize blood sugar levels, balance hormones, and reduce inflammation — key factors in maintaining a healthy metabolism and sustained energy.
“If you are managing heart disease through food, the Mediterranean diet is still super beneficial to follow with a focus on lean proteins such as fish and chicken breast, healthy Omega 3 fats through wild-caught fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout. Also, avocado (not more than ½ of an avocado per day, ideally), olives, mainly using olive oil in your cooking and avoid seed oils as well as red meat. There are also lots of heart healthy superfoods – beets, pomegranates, berries being some of them. The color red is what you want to be looking for in your fruits and vegetables to give your heart a boost. I have also found that when I put my high blood pressure clients on a gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free diet their blood pressure can significantly benefit from that,” advised Podema.
Cost of a Certified Metabolic Coach
The cost for a Metabolic Balance certified coach in Canada varies, depending on factors like the coach’s experience, the program’s length and services, and your location. It typically ranges from about $150 to $400 per session, with some programs requiring an initial 3-month commitment and package deals that can lower the overall price.
To get an accurate quote, you will need to contact a local Metabolic Balance coach or program directly for their specific pricing structure. Canadian provincial and territorial health insurance plans do not cover the services of a metabolic coach. Private insurance may cover it, so be sure to ask your provider if you are covered before proceeding.
Find a Metabolic Balance Coach in Canada here.
Parting words from Podema: “I wish that more Canadians understood that there is a clear link between metabolic health and cardiovascular health – taking care of your metabolism today will help you take care of your heart tomorrow”.
Wise words indeed.
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The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. To read about our editorial review process click here.
