WELCOME
I am Dr. Wendy Walrabenstein, an economist, dietitian, and researcher. I obtained my PhD with the Plants for Joints study, which investigated the effects of a treatment based on plant-based nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and sleep on people with rheumatic diseases. This treatment is being implemented through Plants for Health.
In addition, I serve as a strategic advisor and sparring partner for organizations aiming to make a positive impact. As a board member, I am involved with several organizations that are close to my heart.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
My mission: our health
Way back I studied economics and worked for many years in international banking. I now speak and write about human and planetary health & lifestyle and published the book ‘Food Body Mind’ (Dutch). Recently our Plants for Health team published the Plants for Health book (Dutch), which will be translated in English in 2025. In my research I try to understand which lifestyle improvements can benefit our health and how people can improve their lifestyle in a sustainable way.
It is my mission to make people feel better through lifestyle improvement and to extend the healthy lifespan. The scientific evidence on health effects of whole food plant-based diets, exercise, stress management and sleep-improvement is growing as is the urgency.
I want to show that a healthy lifestyle is fun and improves quality of life dramatically!
WENDY IN A NUTSHELL
Strategic advice
I prefer working with organizations that have a higher purpose—organizations striving to make a real impact on the world, making it a better, more sustainable, and healthier place.
You will have an advisor who thinks creatively and out of the box, an expert who relies on hard data while also possessing strong soft skills. No sugarcoating (all that sugar isn’t good for you anyway), but an advisor with real expertise who can tackle tough challenges (much healthier for you) to help your organization take meaningful steps toward impact.
Researcher
I obtained my PhD in 2024 with the Plants for Joints study at the Amsterdam UMC and at Reade, centre for rehabilitation & rheumatology, I studied the effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle program for people with rheumatic diseases. My project involved behaviour change, exercise, stress- and sleep management. In addition, I’m also interested in the working mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of lifestyle on health outcomes, which we study using MRI, microbiome- and metabolite analyses. My publications can be found here.
Our work will now be implemented by the social impact company Plants for Health.
Author & speaker
I am a storyteller and natural teacher, I just can’t help it: I have to talk about lifestyle and health. I like to do that both on paper as through speaking engagements. My book ‘Food Body Mind’ at the moment is only available in Dutch, but I would love to publish in English! I’m at my best when inspiring, motivating and informing people about how the transition towards a plant-centered lifestyle can benefit our health and that of our planet. Do you want to cooperate? Just send me a message.
THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER
A good talk about your health
01.
I’m a dietitian with know-how on lifestyle (diet, exercise, stress, sleep). Since I also work as lecturer and researcher, I have limited time to see clients. I therefore focus on people with serious condititions, e.g. autoimmune diseases and other rheumatic diseases, cancer, etc.
02.
Sessions are intensive and usually take 90 minutes. Follow-up sessions are mostly shorter (30-60 minutes). Often one consultation is enough, sometimes people like to come back 2 or max 3 times.
03.
To use our time as efficiently as possible, I invite you to fill in a questionnaire beforehand. That way I can do some research and prepare properly. This helps to make the best of your session with me!
Factors
The 4 major lifestyle factors
Diet
A plant-centered diet, based on whole foods is the foundation for your healthy lifestyle. We will start were you are and work from there towards a diet that is both sustainable and beneficial for people with your condition.
Activity
Physical activity is key for a long, healthy lifespan. It contributes to your quality of life. You don’t have to run a marathon or lift heavy weights (I don’t either!) to stay fit. I’ll guide you towards natural movement the way you like it.
Stress
We can’t do much about all the stressors attacking us throughout life, but we can work on the way we handle them. Learning how stress affects your body makes you conscious and I will hand you practical techniques to make sure you are not overwhelmed by life.
Sleep
Sleep deprivation directly and indirectly affects your health. By improving both the quantity and quality of your sleep with easy habit improvements, it will be easier to improve your lifestyle. You will eat better and feel more like exercising, you’ll feel more relaxed and energized.