Before she was the sought-after “Longevity Dietician” transforming lives with her Gut-Brain Method, Ella Davar was a kid tending to plants and animals on her grandparents’ farm in rural Russia. But Ella’s story isn’t just about a farm-to-table upbringing. It’s about the twists and turns that led her from the farm to Wall Street, and ultimately, to becoming a powerful voice in the world of holistic wellness.
An Inflammatory Wake-Up Call
At 15, Ella developed gastritis, a painful inflammatory condition, despite her wholesome diet. This jarring experience revealed a fundamental truth: food is only part of the story.
“Food is not everything. No matter how much broccoli you eat… if you hate your life or if you internalize a lot of stress and trauma, your body and psychosomatic connection and the gut-brain connection really can create the difference and create some of the problems.”
Wall Street Dreams, Silent Struggles
Driven by a desire for a different life, Ella moved to New York City at 18. She learned English, climbed the corporate ladder, and found herself on Wall Street – a world away from her rural roots.
“As a young immigrant in New York City, I was like, where do you go to make a living? You gotta go to Wall Street, baby!”
But the high-pressure environment took its toll. Ella found herself caught in the relentless cycle of burnout, chasing the next promotion while neglecting her well-being. She tried every diet under the sun – vegan, paleo, macrobiotic – searching for a quick fix.
“I tried every diet. I was vegan, raw vegan… I thought the Ayurvedic diet was gonna save my life. And then there’s a trendy macrobiotic diet… I tried it all.”
From Wall Street to Wellness
Yoga became Ella’s turning point. It sparked a deep desire to help others find true well-being and led her to leave Wall Street and pursue a career in wellness. She enrolled in a master’s program in clinical nutrition at NYU, determined to combine her personal experiences with scientific knowledge.
The “Gut-Brain Method”: Connecting the Dots
What sets Ella apart is her holistic approach, which she calls the “Gut-Brain Method.” It’s about understanding the intricate connection between the gut, the brain, and our emotional well-being.
“The method that I’ve created as for the gut-brain method, where I combine nutrition, science with mindfulness… I became a yoga instructor and a health coach in addition to becoming a medical nutrition therapy specialist.”
Ella emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying stress and trauma, and guiding her clients through healing meditations and breathwork.
“When was the last time you experienced self-kindness?” Ella asks her clients, guiding them toward inner child meditations and emotional healing. “Given half the chance, your body will take it and it will thrive even if you don’t eat broccoli every day.”
Bio-Individuality: Becoming a “You-tarian”
Ella encourages her clients to ditch the diet dogma and become “you-tarians” – experts in their own bodies.
“Have you tried becoming a you-tarian? If you invest your time, energy, and money into getting to know yourself and your bio-individuality, you’ll gain so much peace and power on what it is that exactly your body needs to thrive.”
This bio-individual approach is about tuning into your body’s unique signals and creating a sustainable, personalized path to wellness.
The Takeaway: A Holistic Approach to Longevity
Ella Davar’s journey is a powerful reminder that true health isn’t just about what you eat, it’s about how you live. By connecting the dots between nutrition, mindset, and emotional well-being, she’s helping her clients unlock their full potential for longevity and vibrant living. Watch the full podcast episode here!
