Dr. Cas, founder of Evoke 5 Medical Center, believes in the power of healthy, happy communities – and knows it takes a village to achieve that. In Dr. Cas’ Crew, we’re pleased to profile like-minded individuals and businesses that are working to create and support strong communities and healthy lifestyles.
Meet Lauren Gillan, CN
Lauren Gillan is a Holistic Certified Nutritionist dedicated to helping clients look and feel their best by addressing the root causes of their symptoms. Based in Dallas, Texas, she works one-on-one with clients and their families to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, restore balance, and cultivate a healthy gut microbiome through personalized diet and lifestyle strategies.
“The wellness industry can make health and nutrition feel overwhelming and complicated. If we break it down into bite-sized nuggets, perhaps we can all get to where we want to be more efficiently. My goal is to simplify it and make it work for your lifestyle,” she said.
Laughter is medicine
Lauren’s journey into nutrition was deeply personal—by the time she turned 18, she had already battled severe anxiety, depression, weight struggles, hormone imbalances, skin issues and sleep disorders.
“I hope to be the guide I needed all those years ago,” she said. “I’m motivated by the potential to change someone’s life, offer insight, relief and the opportunity to help someone feel joy. Seeing a client light up when they gain the information and tools they have been searching for is really something else.”
From a young age, Lauren also dreamed of a career in comedy, and she brings her love of humor into her work.
“If I can get a client to have fun while feeling empowered, it has been a great session,” she said. “There needs to be more levity in healthcare. It is not all doom and gloom. Laughter is medicine.”
No cookie-cutter solutions
Through her practice, Lauren Gillan Nutrition, she focuses on education, empowerment and personalized solutions to help clients achieve sustainable, lifelong health.
“Each client is bio-unique. Much of what I do is customized to create sustainable, lifelong results for the individual,” Lauren said. “During an initial consultation, I take a lot of time getting to know a client and their lifestyle so I can make recommendations they are almost guaranteed to implement. There is no perfect cookie-cutter solution.”
Lauren said she is surprised by how divided the wellness community can be on certain subjects, and gets frustrated when experts make blanket statements about health.
“Health is not black and white. It’s not about right vs. wrong, plant-based vs. carnivore, or Keto vs. Paleo. We need to present both sides. For example, fermented foods aren’t ideal for someone with histamine intolerance and leaky gut, and garlic isn’t great for someone with slow sulfur metabolism,” she said.
She also challenges the phrase, “everything in moderation.” “I like to meet my clients somewhere in the middle. The focus is on real food for a good mood,” she said.
Motivation vs momentum
One of Lauren’s biggest challenges is helping clients prioritize long-term nourishment over quick fixes.
“There are so many supplements and medications that promise radical results. And who doesn’t want a magic pill or fairy godmother?” Lauren noted. “A big hurdle I faced this past year was educating clients on the importance of nourishment for a long, healthy life—not just a quick fix.”
Rather than focusing on aggressive results, Lauren emphasizes sustainable, approachable well-being. “Breaking habits is challenging, but if the results feel good, we have momentum. Motivation to change ebbs and flows—momentum is harder to break.”
Feeding a love of learning
The world of wellness is constantly evolving, and Lauren is committed to lifelong learning. She devours information on detoxing, digestion and gut health, frequently reading books, listening to podcasts, and collaborating with other medical professionals.
“Sometimes, I do not agree with everything I hear—and that is OK,” she said.
With her love of learning, Lauren is concerned that so many young students entering the medical field have very little interest in studying nutrition. “There is an overwhelming disconnect. It baffles me,” she said.
Finding balance in work and life
When Lauren finds herself down about the wellness industry or overwhelmed by her work, she first acknowledges that the feeling won’t last forever. “Then, I can move forward. Gently,” she said. Approaches that help include breaking up her day into smaller pieces that leave her feeling accomplished. She also makes a point to look outside of her circle for individuals who inspire her.
“Sometimes we just need connection, laughter and movement,” Lauren said. “For example, I might meet a friend for a long walk instead of going for a happy hour. It allows me to catch up with a pal and get in some exercise.”
As an entrepreneur, Lauren understands the importance of work/life balance.
“It would be easy to spend every moment working,” she said. “You have to schedule fun. If you pair things you enjoy with things you want to accomplish, you come out winning.”
Lauren’s top 5
5 Underrated Health Foods:
🥦 Microgreens
🌿 Fresh herbs
💪 Chia seeds
🎃 Sprouted pumpkin seeds
🐄 Colostrum
5 Ingredients She Avoids:
🚫 Aspartame
🚫 Soybean & Canola Oil
🚫 Corn tortillas
🚫 Plant-based burgers
🚫 Processed cheese
Connect with Lauren
www.laurengillan.com
If there’s a business or individual in your community that you think should be featured in Dr. Cas’ Crew, drop us a line!