Meet Bella Cataldi of Be Well By Bella

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bella Cataldi.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My wellness journey began my freshman year of college. Like a majority of college students, I spent my time in college busy partying, socializing, and going out. To my knowledge, I was having the time of my life, but little did I know, I was living in a black mold-infested dorm room that would later leave me making weekly trips to the hospital and local urgent care with little to no answers about what was wrong with me.

When sophomore year of college came around, I began to get incredibly ill. I started to experience chronic fatigue, migraines, trouble breathing, heart palpitations, brain fog, joint pain, panic attacks, crippling anxiety, and the list goes on. I continued to get sicker by the day and eventually went home to LA to get tests done, but they found nothing.

Finally, when my junior year came around, and I made the decision to go abroad to London, I became sicker than I had ever been and this is where I truly where I hit “rock bottom”. I was making weekly trips to the urgent care next to my dorm, and finally on a trip to Budapest with friends, I ended up in the hospital. Within hours I was back in London packing up my room, and by the next day, I was getting a two-hour long brain and spine MRI back in Los Angeles.

This was the moment I knew I needed to find answers and true healing for myself.

After a few long months of more tests, I met my amazing LLMD also known as a Lyme-literate medical doctor, Dr. Erica Lehman, who discovered I had Chronic Lyme Disease and toxic black mold illness. Oftentimes, mold and Lyme come hand in hand. So in my case, the mold exposure from my freshman year dorm room had activated previously dormant Lyme in my body.

After I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Mold illness, I made it my purpose to deep dive into the principles of detoxification and holistic nutrition so that I could begin to heal myself from the inside out.

After a year and a half of daily infusions, deep healing work, and completely reversing my Chronic Lyme symptoms through plant-based nutrition, daily juicing, and detoxification practices, I joined Institute for Integrative Nutrition to get my certification as a Holistic and Integrative Health Coach. I knew that I wanted to help other people struggling with their health just as I did and nutrition school felt incredibly aligned with my path. When I joined IIN, I made a promise to myself that I would start a social media platform and begin to share my story with the world. Starting my brand Be Well By Bella was incredibly scary for me and I faced a lot of resistance toward it, worrying about what other people might think. Imposter syndrome definitely had a hold over me. However, I knew that sharing my struggles with Chronic Lyme Disease and Mold and the trials and tribulations that came with getting a diagnosis was a crucial step for me to lean into my purpose. I knew deep down that it was my calling. I finally made the leap, started Be Well, got my certification as an Integrative detox and nutrition health coach, began to connect with others in the wellness space, and since then, I’ve been on a quest to help people heal from the inside out through my coaching practice and social media platform.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely been a rollercoaster of a journey! However, I truly wouldn’t change a thing about my story. I strongly believe that everything happens for us rather than to us, and years later, I can finally see that for myself. My battle with Chronic Lyme Disease not only lead me back to myself but it leads me to my passion and purpose. From a young age, I knew I wanted to help people, I think it was more just about what form that would come in. Whether I grew up to be a doctor or a therapist, I always had a strong urge to help and heal others. I remember people always telling me that I carried that energy when I was young, so I think chronic illness really just woke me up to that calling.

Looking back on that time in my life, feeling sick day in and out, going from doctor to doctor, with no answers or diagnoses was definitely really difficult and heavy. Feeling like nobody could figure out what was wrong with me no matter how many tests, scans, or labs I got done was not easy. However, it was equally empowering when I decided to take my power back and become my own healer. This is when I began to read, learn, and get my hands on anything that might lead me to healing.

One of the biggest struggles I faced throughout my battle with chronic illness was the isolation that comes with it. It’s something that nobody talks about or at least something that nobody talked about when I was at the peak of my sickness. Having to leave college and move back home to keep up with daily treatments and infusions was an extremely isolating experience. It was incredibly lonely and also just a really scary moment in my life.

But again, all of that fear, worry, and loneliness that I experienced woke me up to my passion. This feeling of isolation also helped me realize that there was a gap in wellness culture surrounding chronic illness. Nobody was talking about the difficulties and internal struggles that come alongside invisible illness and I knew that was an important conversation that needed to be had. I didn’t want to continue to share a highlight reel on social media that wasn’t my reality, instead I wanted to open up about my personal struggles and awakenings in the hopes that someone would feel seen and heard. I knew I had to share my story to help others who were silently going through the same thing. That’s truly what lead me to begin my passion project turned business, Be Well.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Certified Integrative Health Coach specializing in detoxification and cleansing, cellular regeneration, and holistic nutrition. My coaching practice is founded on the belief that it is our birthright to “be well” and live life as our most energized, vibrant, and healthiest selves. I believe in the power of a whole foods, plant-centric diet, bio-individuality, practicing cleansing as a lifestyle, and reconnecting the mind and body to find true, sustainable healing.

I have a 1:1 coaching practice where I create specialized programs tailored to each client’s bio-individual needs and goals. I help clients deep dive into the practices of detoxification to alleviate chronic symptoms and implement sustainable nutritional and lifestyle changes. I also help women detoxify specifically from Lyme and/or Mold which is incredibly rewarding, as it’s a full circle moment for me to now help others with what I struggled with for so long!

I believe what sets me apart from others is that I’ve healed myself from Chronic Lyme disease, mycotoxin illness, parasites, and chronic viruses through a holistic and integrative lens. The work that I’m sharing is the work that I’ve already done, and continue to do, on a daily basis. I’ve spent the last few years as my own guinea pig for all things holistic wellness, from studying nutrition, reading books, listening to podcasts, and exploring various healing tools and modalities, and I know that I can help others heal the same way that I did.

Additionally, I’m someone who shows up every single day no matter what. Even on the days where I don’t want to do the work because we all experience resistance to self-growth and discipline one way or another, I still always show up for myself. The consistency I embody in how I show up for myself is the same way that I show up for my clients and my community. I believe this allows people to trust me and know I will always hold their hand through the process and keep them accountable.

I would say I’m most proud of myself for pushing past my fears, chasing my dreams, and showing up unapologetically as myself. I’m really proud of the business I’ve created and continue to create, from the ground up. It’s really rewarding to know that you are making a difference in the lives of other people, even if it’s only one person. As I mentioned earlier, I faced deep resistance for years leading up to starting Be Well. It took a long time for me to finally dive head-first into the wellness space, begin to build my brand and share the incredibly vulnerable stories surrounding my journey with chronic illness and healing. Pushing past those debilitating fears and worries and choosing my passion and purpose over what other people think is something I’m really proud of. It’s not an easy thing to do.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lessons I’ve learned on this journey are to always listen to your intuition and to always live for yourself. Do the things you’re afraid other people will judge you for. Start the thing you’ve been holding off doing. Take risks. Continue to show up as your authentic self rather than as someone who pleases others. I definitely learned this the hard way. Shying away from our gifts and not sharing our stories with the world only does ourselves and others a disservice! Our experiences, whether amazing or difficult, are a gift because they are opportunities for human connection and deep healing – for us and those we reach. Our stories are meant to be shared, and when we are able to turn our pain into purpose, we are truly unstoppable. Stay true to who you are, listen to your intuition, follow your passions, and do what lights you up. Leaning into your true self, your passions, and your gifts has the power to not only change your life but to change the lives of others. And when we lean into these gifts, endless doors and opportunities begin to open up.

Contact Info:

• Website: bellacataldi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewellbybella/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellacataldi/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/bewellbybella

Image Credits
Michel Pinto