Food Scientist, PhD
Certified Nutritonist, MSc and Educator
Functional Medicine Practitioner & Health Coach
Certified Aromatherapist
MSc Student of Clinical Psychoneuroimmunology

Hello, I’m Maria Paula

My Journey into Food and Nutrition

Food and nutrition have always been a huge area of interest for me. My entire professional career has been dedicated to food in one form or another.

Before becoming a nutritionist, I was a food science and technology researcher with a master’s degree and PhD, working at universities in Brazil, Chile, and the UK. I loved researching food and its impact on health, but I realised I wanted to take that knowledge beyond academia.

That’s when everything changed.

From Academic Research to Clinical Practice

I decided to leave my academic career and work towards the dream of opening my own clinic. In 2017, I began a second master’s degree in Human Nutrition and completed my Functional Medicine Health Coach certification.

It was like I’d finally found what had been missing – I fell in love with supporting people directly, helping them achieve a sustainably healthy lifestyle that truly improved their quality of life. I have never stopped studying; I believe, in this field, the most up-to-date knowledge is essential.

Transforming the Way We See Health

When I started the clinic, my goal was clear: to promote health and well-being through education, motivation, and self-discovery. I invite my clients to reconnect with themselves, with nature, and with others.

For me, health is not just the absence of illness, but a state of positive vitality. My approach treats the whole person, not just the disease. The objective is always to restore function through nutrition and lifestyle.

Learn More

“Know all the theories, master all the practices, but when touching a human soul, be only a human soul.”

Carl Jung

Personalised, Integrative Support

I work with people of all ages and backgrounds through one-to-one sessions, group programmes, and seminars.

My integrative, personalised approach recognises that no two people are the same. Together, we create an individualised plan based on nutrition, activity, sleep, rest, and stress-relief techniques.

What Sets My Method Apart

Deep Learning

I don’t just tell you what to eat – I help you understand why, so you’re empowered to make sustainable choices.

Whole-Person Care

Using the bio-psycho-social-spirtual model, I support not just your body, but your mind and sense of purpose.

Continous Support

You’ll have access to me between sessions, because real life happens between appointments.

About Functional Medicine

The Functional Medicine model is an individualised, person-centred, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It treats us as holistic beings and looks for the root causes of a health issue, addressing the origin and the triggers instead of just silencing the symptoms.

For more information about Functional Medicine, you can access https://www.ifm.org.

About Clinical PNI

Clinical Psychoneuroimmunology (Clinical PNI, or cPNI for short) provides an integrative view of patient health, examining the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and their relationship with the psychological, social and environmental aspects of a patient’s life.

In other words, it recognises that our health is not shaped by biology alone: our emotions, thoughts, social connections, stress levels, environment, and even past experiences all leave an imprint on our body. As a science, cPNI helps us understand that symptoms are not isolated problems but part of a bigger story.

You can read more about cPNI at: https://pruimboominstitute.com/