Serenity Healthy Living with Serena Gardenour

I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology, am a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition®, a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and a Certified Keto Coach. I combine a strong scientific foundation with real-life experience to help individuals become the healthiest version of themselves through personalized wellness lifestyles and nutrition strategies.

Alongside my six years in health and wellness coaching, I come from 25 years working in the pharmaceutical industry in engineering work and leadership. Working in a fast-paced, high-pressure corporate environment has given me a deep understanding of the demands, stress, and challenges many professionals face while trying to prioritize their health. Navigating my own complex health challenges while leading in this industry has given me a unique perspective on how to balance wellness, career, and life in a sustainable way.

My passion for health and healing was born from my own journey.

My health challenges didn’t begin overnight. I had struggled with allergies and sinus issues my entire life, but about 17 years ago, a wave of unexplained symptoms emerged. After visiting more than a dozen doctors and repeatedly being told I was “perfectly healthy—except for some stomach issues,” I knew there had to be more to the story.

When my health suddenly declined, I was overwhelmed and afraid to eat. I lost 30 pounds because I seemed to react to everything. At one point, I could tolerate only seven foods. Instead of giving up, I leaned into my scientific background and became my own greatest experiment - methodically reintroducing one food at a time to understand how my body responded. There were epic failures (gluten and nightshades) and exciting victories (goat cheese and homemade breakfast sausage).

During this time, I was also balancing the responsibilities of a demanding corporate career. Managing chronic symptoms while leading in a high-performance environment required resilience, discipline, and a deep commitment to understanding my body. This experience helped me appreciate just how difficult it can be for busy professionals to navigate illness while maintaining their careers and responsibilities.

In my search for answers, I explored nearly every dietary approach imaginable—vegan, vegetarian, paleo, autoimmune paleo, ketogenic, and more. I explored lifestyle changes taking yoga, stress reduction, getting acupuncture, using herbal and Chinese medicine treatments. I tried it all looking for answers! Nutrition and lifestyle changes helped me regain about 80% of my health, but I still wasn’t fully well. Eventually, I found a Functional Medicine physician who asked deeper questions and conducted comprehensive testing. After years of misdiagnosis, I finally received answers: Lyme disease, Tick borne diseases Bartonella and Babesia, and histamine intolerance, which was contributing to 71 food allergies and intolerances.

Receiving those diagnoses changed everything. It allowed me to address the root causes of my symptoms and ultimately reclaimed my health.

That experience reshaped my purpose

This journey not only restored my health, but it also reignited my creativity and love for cooking. The kitchen has become one of my most peaceful places. I love transforming recipes into nourishing, healing versions that support metabolic health without sacrificing flavor or enjoyment.

Today, I specialize in helping individuals navigate complex health and wellness challenges, especially those dealing with Lyme disease, co-infections, histamine intolerance, allergies, autoimmune conditions, and metabolic concerns—using a science-backed, holistic, whole-food approach tailored to their unique needs. I am particularly passionate about helping busy professionals learn how to support their health while balancing demanding careers and life responsibilities.

Healing does not require stepping away from your ambitions, it requires the right tools, knowledge, and support to help your body function optimally.

My mission is simple:

To walk alongside you, provide clarity where there is confusion, and empower you with tools to reclaim your health, regain your energy, and thrive in both your personal lives and professional careers.

I would be honored to support you on your wellness journey.