Maria Benardis is a Gourmand Award winning Author, Intuitive Chef, Longevity Expert, Motivational Speaker, Holistic Health, Wellness & Spiritual Coach and Founder of Greekalicious (www.greekalicious.nyc)(www.mariabenardis.com).
Helping humanity thrive and realize their limitless potential by equipping them with the know-how to maximize their health and wellness.
Maria Benardis was voted No.1 on the list of “The Top 10 Females Disrupting the Health Industry in 2023”
Maria Benardis, The Motivational Speaker with Bite, is the authority in health and wellness and age reversal. Maria’s trailblazing work has been widely recognized. She was voted No. 1 on the list of “The Top 10 Females Disrupting the Health Industry in 2023”, and her impact has earned her a place in the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who 2025 edition. These honors reflect her groundbreaking approach that blends ancient healing with modern science—transforming lives at the deepest level.
Maria Benardis offers a one-of-a-kind health and wellness coaching experience that merges the timeless healing wisdom of Ancient Greece with modern, cutting-edge biohacking technologies. Her holistic, intuitive approach—Harmonious Intuitive Wellness™—helps you restore balance in mind, body, and spirit while awakening your innate power to heal and thrive.
Through personalized coaching and energy-based assessments, Maria guides you in achieving optimal health, sustainable weight loss, increased vitality, and spiritual alignment. Her mission goes beyond just physical health—she supports your mind, body and spirit.
Maria is a faculty instructor, at the New Earths University’s School of Health & Wellness representing its discipline, Wellness Sovereignty.
Maria is also the creator of the online course, The Divine Blueprint of Health & Ascension – Unlocking the Ancient Greek & Christ Consciousness Code Modalities for Longevity; returning the world back to agapi (unconditional love) and the real diet (Greek word meaning “a way of life’).
She also launched in September 2020, her talk show – “The Health & Faith Show”, covering news impacting on our health, wellness and faith.
After spending many years as a well-respected and highly sought-after accounting, taxation, banking and financial specialist, Maria decided a career change was in order and went back to her first love- cooking and health. Her last position was a Board Member on the Tax Practitioners Board of Australia (a Division of the IRS equivalent). She also worked in real estate in NYC for Keller Williams and the Corcoran Group. In the past she also managed the business affairs of many talents including CODA and Pam Ann. She was also the producer of a short film titled “The Red Shoes”, directed my Fiona Buie.
Following a traumatic youth, Maria suffered a number of chronic illnesses, such as depression, asthma and cysts. She healed herself from her illnesses including the cysts all over her body which according to doctors were incurable in light of her genetic predisposition to cancer. Her mother, father and sister passed away from cancer. Her frustration with doctors and her many surgeries including the removal of 3/4 of her left lung lead her to search for alternatives and to heal herself by practicing the ancient Greek wisdoms and philosophies. Learning the ancient medicines of her Greek ancestors – meditating on classic Greek texts and incorporating the Greek approach to food, music, nature, and more into her lifestyle regimen. Not only did Maria completely any traces of illness, but also found her passion and purpose in life: to reawaken the ancient Greek “diet” (a Greek word that actually means “way of life”) and teaches people that the power to heal lies in their very own hands. Maria feels it’s her duty and calling to share these ancient Greek wisdoms and practices and to help others. She is also passionate about sharing this information with others so they can heal too.
Maria is also a Gourmand award-winning chef and author. She has been featured in top media including The New York Times, The Today Show, and Vogue; she has offered “Cooking with Agapi” classes at prestigious venues including The Natural Gourmet Institute, Brooklyn Kitchen, Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma and Haven’s Kitchen; she is a food and health blogger for The Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Mind Body Green; she writes for the Epoch Times and Estiator Magazine, she is the author of three books – My Greek Family Table, Cooking & Eating Wisdom for Better Health, and Greekalicious Feast. In May 2017 Maria released her fourth book MY GREEK FAMILY TABLE. In addition to demonstrating that the foods of ancient Greece are as relevant – and delicious – as ever, Maria places and emphasis on eating for health, healing and well-being. The recipes in MY GREEK FAMILY TABLE feature an abundance of fruit vegetables, healthy fats, and wholesome ingredients, and there is healing wisdom throughout the book as well as a glossary of the “Healing Ingredients of Greece” to show readers how to choose ingredients to treat ailments. To fully embrace the whole culinary experience, she spent several years studying ancient Greek cuisine and travelling throughout Greece. Maria honed her skills by working in the kitchen at XO, owned by one of Australia’s most influential celebrity chefs Neil Perry and after vacationing on the Greek Island of Mykonos, Maria experienced her life-changing calling and epiphany which inspired her venture out on her own.
After much success in Australia Maria set her sights on expanding to the United States. In 2014, Maria packed up and moved to New York City, where she spread her wisdom and passion about Ancient Greek cooking, wellness and its healing wisdoms.
Maria is dedicated to being the catalyst in awakening people to the ancient Greek wisdoms and practices that help people live their optimum health, wellness and life. Maria makes learning about health, food and wellness a harmonious and joyful experience for everyone. Maria also incorporates innovative ground-breaking science-based energy-based technologies to help her client’s self-heal and achieve their optimum health. In 2022 Maria moved to Honolulu Hawaii where her healing work continues. She is also now incorporating the Hawaiian wisdoms and teachings into her practice.
