I’m Maria,
Expansion of your health is available for you and I’m here to walk this journey alongside you.
As a nutritional therapist and a Functional Medicine Practitioner, I’ve combined nutritional therapy, functional medicine, functional immunology, nutrigenomics and the biology of trauma to help you find the root causes of your chronic health issues. By using a 100% personalised protocol, I can help you heal or get into remission so that you can reap the benefits of what life has to offer.
My Story
Somewhat unintentionally, I’ve been a scholar all of my life. I had already been through a couple of master degrees and studied in 3 different universities around the world, when I got diagnosed with a heart disease and put on a lifelong medication. I didn’t realise that all the pressure I had put on myself would impact my health in such a profund way and, in searching - and failing - to find solutions for my issues in a conventional approach, I ended up completely changing my professional path and started studying functional medicine.
In the process, I managed to heal my heart, stopped taking any medication and I’ve become a marathoner and a very joyful trail runner.
My Education & Qualifications
2014 - 2017
Certified Nutritional Therapy
3.5 years of Nutritional Therapy Course at The International Institute for Nutrition and Health, Bray, Ireland
2020
SIBO Mastery Program
Certified program designed by Dr Nirala Jacobi to help practitioners in better understanding and treating SIBO, by learning how to identify SIBO, as well as manage it with diet and lifestyle changes.
The Liver and Gallbladder in Health and Disease
A comprehensive course for clinicians on the current research and strategies for the integrative management of liver and gallbladder by Dr Steven Sandberg-Lewis and Dr Keivan Jinnah.
Mastering Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Training with Dr llana Gurevich in how to successfully treat IBD patients by using alternative approaches, diets, and natural supplements alongside conventional medications.
Functional Immunology Training
A 22-module training in mastering immunological mechanisms following Dr. Samuel Yanuck’s teachings in his Cogence Immunology course in order to better handle the key drivers underlying most disease processes, drivers that are all either inherently immunological or are powerfully influenced by immunological mechanisms.
2021
Female Ecology Mastercourse
Course by Dr Moira Bradfield on the vaginal microbiome and how it relates to clinical practice, case interpretation and therapeutic application.
Navigating the Pediatric Gut
Getting the knowledge and skills to take on pediatric cases related to functional digestive disorders.
Methylation & Clinical Nutrigenomics
Part 1 training on the clinical use of nutrigenomics by Dr Ben Lynch.
Lecturing and Educating
I’ve begun doing professional webinars and talks for different supplement companies on chronic health issues raging from autoimmunity to GI imbalances.
I’ve started being a lecturer for the International Institute of Nutrition and Health (IINH) and a member of Thyroid Nutrition Ireland (TNI).
2022
Mould Literacy Training
Certified with Dr. Jill Crista as a Mould Literate Practitioner in order to better support people suffering from mould and mycotoxin related illness.
Professional Training in Keto for Dietitians
Accredited training founded by The Noakes Foundation on the clinical application of a LCHF diet from a range of conditions (metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, weight management, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and sports nutrition), tailored to meet the needs of Dietitians and Nutrition Specialists.
Stool Analysis Masterclass & Meet your Microbiome
In-depth health professional training by Dr Jason Hawrelak on the gut ecosystem and its connection with a range of diseases (from IBS or IBD to non-gut conditions like anxiety, depression, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver etc).
2023
Lifecode Gx® Nutrigenomics Practitioner programme
10-week practitioner course which deepens the knowledge of nutrigenomics by emphasising the connections between genes, nutrients and body systems, starting with core principles and building the knowledge of nutrient metabolism, methylation, histamine, detoxification, nervous system and hormones.
Wahls Protocol® Health Practitioner Certification
The Wahls Protocol®, created by Dr. Terry Wahls, is an autoimmune protocol that has changed the direction of dietary and health behaviour research for neurological and autoimmune conditions including Multiple Sclerosis.
Biology of Trauma® Certificate Course
The Biology of Trauma® one-year course bridges the two worlds of functional medicine and trauma therapy by providing the missing piece to most modalities and therapies, which is addressing stored trauma in the body. The professional training teaches how to identify the biological factors holding back the client’s healing. It also incorporates advanced somatic and parts work to address other emotional, psychological and physiological aspects of stored trauma.
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Training program - in training
A 3-year course in SE, which is a body-oriented therapeutic model that helps heal trauma and other stress disorders.
Certified TRE Provider (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises) - in training
TRE is a body based (somatic) process and tension reduction technique which safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system.
I am a registered Nutritional Therapist and member of NTOI and I am bond by its Code of Practice to do a minimum of 30h of continuous professional development each year.
2019 – Present
KI Advanced Functional Medicine Practitioner with Dr Datis Kharrazian at Kharrazian Institute
I am currently in the middle of the 6-year post-graduate Kharrazian Institute Functional Medicine Program. I have been taking the KI Advanced Practice Modules since 2019 and the 20 modules of the Clinical Mastership Program since the beginning of 2022.
2019
Neuroinflammation Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications course
Gastrointestinal Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications course
Autoimmunity Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications course
2020
Hashimoto’s Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Diabetes and Dysglycemia Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Infertility, Prenatal Care, and Maternal Health Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
2021
Cognitive Decline and Dementia Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Chronic Fatigue and Pain Syndromes Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Childhood Development Disorders: Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
2022
Clinical Mastership Program - monthly modules
Cardiovascular and Neurovascular Syndromes Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Mood and Anxiety Disorders Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Longevity and Wellness Optimization Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
2023
Clinical Mastership Program - monthly modules
Chronic Infections Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
Hormone Imbalances Throughout the Lifespan – Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
2024
Common Pediatric and Geriatric Conditions Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications - to come
Headaches and Migraines Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications - to come