Putting Health First in a Busy World: Maria Jula on Evidence-Based Nutrition and Workplace Wellness

For too many professional women, health becomes something that gets pushed aside in favor of work demands and daily responsibilities. Maria Jula, founder of MJ London Nutrition, understands this struggle intimately. After years of putting her own wellness on the back burner, she experienced firsthand how challenging it can be to prioritize health while managing a demanding career.

With a Level 5 Advanced Nutrition Science Diploma with Distinction from Mac-Nutrition Uni and qualifications as both a nutritionist and personal trainer, Maria combines evidence-based practice with the empathy that comes from lived experience. Her approach focuses on empowering women who often find themselves putting their health on the back burner due to work demands—a challenge she knows intimately.

Beyond individual coaching, Maria champions workplace wellness programs, recognizing that creating supportive environments for women's health extends far beyond the consultation room. Her multifaceted career as a nutritionist, mentoring officer, EDI advocate, and musician gives her a unique perspective on balancing multiple demanding roles while maintaining personal wellness.

In this conversation, Maria shares why investing in health isn't a luxury but a foundation for success, her approach to cutting through wellness industry noise with evidence-based guidance, and how employers can better support their teams' wellbeing. For any woman feeling like health keeps getting pushed aside, Maria's insights offer both practical strategies and the encouragement to finally put yourself first.

You mention dealing with your own hormonal health challenges as a busy professional. How did your personal wellness journey shape your approach to helping other women, and what advice would you give to women who feel like they're constantly putting their health on the back burner due to work demands?

I was diagnosed with PCOS more than ten years after I first began experiencing symptoms. It only happened because I had private health insurance at the time, which allowed me to pursue the necessary testing. That experience showed me just how disempowering it can feel to be out of sync with your own body—never knowing if your next meal will leave you feeling bloated or uncomfortable.

During lockdown, I finally had the time and space to focus on my health, and I know many others did the same. But now that we're back to our busy routines, it’s harder than ever to balance health with the demands of work and personal life.

My advice to women who feel like their health keeps getting pushed aside is this: invest in yourself. Prioritising your health isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation for a long, happy, and fulfilling life. Working with a nutritionist can help you find a clear, tailored path forward without the overwhelm of sorting through conflicting information on your own. It took me six years to get to where I am today, and I know most women simply don’t have that kind of time. The right support can fast-track your progress and empower you to take back control of your body and your wellbeing.

The wellness industry is flooded with quick fixes and trendy diets. How do you ensure your approach remains evidence-based, and what red flags should busy women watch out for when choosing a nutrition professional or wellness program?

The best rule of thumb? If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. While weight loss can sometimes happen quickly, building a sustainable, healthy lifestyle is a longer journey that requires real habit change—not gimmicks.

I’m especially cautious of programs that demonise entire food groups, like carbohydrates or fats, or promote unnecessary food intolerance testing (excluding medically necessary tests, like those for coeliac disease). These are major red flags. Every macronutrient has a role in a balanced diet, and over-restrictive approaches rarely lead to long-term success.

To keep my own practice evidence-based, I regularly follow respected researchers and health professionals who are deeply rooted in science, and I rely on reputable databases like PubMed when I want to dive deeper myself. A good tip: if someone makes a bold claim online, don’t hesitate to ask for their references. Credible professionals will always be transparent about their sources.

Beyond individual coaching, you offer workplace wellness programs. What role do you think employers should play in supporting women's health, particularly around issues like hormonal health and work-life balance? How can we create more supportive environments for women's wellness in professional settings?

Considering how much of our lives are spent at work, I believe employers have a responsibility to support their teams in achieving a healthy work-life balance. For women in particular, there’s still a long way to go in recognising that we experience unique challenges—whether that’s managing hormonal conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, navigating menopause, or balancing caregiving responsibilities.

The first step is awareness. From there, it’s about creating an environment where women feel supported and empowered to thrive. While workplace wellness programs have been shown to improve employee retention, reduce absenteeism, and boost productivity, I think their greatest value lies in education. When people understand how to take care of their health, they’re better equipped to make choices that lead to a longer, healthier, and more meaningful life.

I'm passionate about working with businesses to build wellness cultures that support every individual—because when employees are well, everyone benefits.

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