Inspiring Conversations with Catherine Layden of Delicious Nutritious – Nutrition Therapy for Vibrant Health!

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Layden.

Hi Catherine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Since childhood, I’ve had an immense, infinitely optimistic drive to be my best, healthiest self and enjoy a vibrant lifespan. But as a kid, I loved sugar! My grandpa worked for a big candy company and we had sugar and candy all the time. I truly believed that fruit-flavored candy had actual fruit and probably vitamins in it. My constant sickness, acne and “ADHD” betrayed that belief! I was a dancer and loved strength training, so exercise helped my immune system somewhat, but I was stuck with my epic sugar addiction and terrible 80s & 90s nutrition advice. I once ate half of a low-fat sheet cake and was totally proud because it was low-fat!
My beloved grandparents suffered declining health that made me profoundly sad, so I resolved to study how to avoid problems, live well, not fear aging and help those around me feel good, too. I was not sure how to make a viable career out of my interests, which were not specifically medical when I was heading to college. Two decades later, I had experienced more than enough accidents, surgeries, illnesses, and work/life balance disasters to know it was time to embark on my “forever career.”

Every health challenge I overcame was part of my real-life education, but I needed to go back to school to unlearn antiquated nutrition beliefs. I researched all the academic options and chose holistic nutrition, a fundamentally sensible approach that takes every aspect of each individual’s life circumstances into careful consideration.

I spent two years at the Nutrition Therapy Institute with like-minded career changers. I became Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition (BCHN)® by the NANP, the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, and since then have completed thousands of hours of natural, functional medicine training. During the past decade, I have been learning from every new client I meet. I feel so much joy when I can help my clients feel bright and hopeful about their healthy futures!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As for obstacles and challenges, I am always endeavoring to learn about another complex, obscure health condition so I can spot it when a client presents with unusual symptoms…but this is super interesting and a challenge I love.

I also try to structure my offerings in a way that will truly serve clients, yet be affordable. Some of my clients have gone through many kinds of expensive health explorations and wacky diets that did not actually focus on the core, foundational aspects of good health, so I try to make my recommendations simple enough to follow, yet thorough enough to really feel a difference.

As you know, we’re big fans of Delicious Nutritious – Nutrition Therapy for Vibrant Health!. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a digestive health-focused, functional nutritionist serving clients in Denver or anywhere, virtually. I’m a skilled health detective who loves complex cases!

I gave my practice a cheerful name because no matter what is currently wrong with somebody’s digestion and/or food reactions, we can and will find something delicious, nutritious, satisfying, and comfortable to eat. If people have been struggling to actually digest “healthy foods” like big, raw salads and crunchy veggies, or they can’t eat much protein without it sitting like a brick their stomach or fat gives them pangs, these are all clues to functional health imbalances that have findable, healable root causes

At first, I thought I’d mainly be helping people choose what to eat but my work now goes much deeper. I search out the root causes of chronic, long term or new, acute health concerns. Many of my clients have been suffering with symptoms for years if not decades, and know that past foods and habits contributed to poor health. Others can pinpoint the decline of their health following an episode of food poisoning, sickness during travel, surgery, or other traumatic episode.

If people have visited conventional and alternative practitioners, even medical specialists who focus on one area of health, and do not feel better, I will try to connect the dots between symptoms and work to figure out what is happening holistically, since all areas of health can be connected. Steps towards healing may involve changes to foods eaten, meal composition and timing, hydration, digestive aids, probiotics, natural antimicrobials, and other strategic supplements. I use functional lab testing to discover imbalances affecting gut health, nutrient status, food reactions, metabolic function, hormones, and exposure to environmental factors like chemical pollutants, mold, or heavy metals.

I can help clients heal a leaky gut, calm digestive pain, clear food sensitivities, balance autoimmune conditions and heal celiac damage and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. I focus on the gut-brain connection to balance the digestive, nervous and immune systems. It is important for clients to realize that if they have had symptoms for a long time, it will take time, patience and intention to heal.

Whole, fresh, natural foods are always the best! I do not focus on any one type of diet since each person is unique. People need different nutrition in different seasons and climates and during different phases of life. Even blood type can affect which foods are supportive or not. I carefully evaluate each client’s needs and make specific recommendations, then we fine-tune their plan as we continue to work together.

My practice is body positive and inclusive of all people. If you have a body, I want to help you feel good!

Any big plans?
I am planning to continue working 1:1 with clients and building solid, lasting relationships, although I honestly hope to help them get well as soon as possible and go about their happy lives. When a client tells me they feel great and do need anything else, it’s like I am releasing them back into the wild to go free and thrive!

This being said, I have had some clients for a decade. They feel comfortable checking in for health tune-ups and I love to work with them long-term. I am always learning something new that I can share. I hope to be a trusted provider to whom clients can reach out when they encounter new health circumstances.

I have met many family members, friends, and co-workers of my client base, and that is how my clientele grows by word of mouth. I am very thankful for my lovely clients and their trust in me.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@deliciousnutritioushealth.com
• Website: www.deliciousnutritioushealth.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeliciousNutritiousLLC
• Other: https://www.healthprofs.com/us/members?search=catherine%20layden

Image Credits
Life Unstill Photography