Clear & Consistent Communication
Coordinated Care
Repeatable Results
I'm Eliana Witchell, a Canadian virtual dietitian.
Based on a 53 patient review, my patients experienced over 1000 lbs of weight loss, reduction in waist circumference, and improved blood markers - some to the point of mediation reduction. Full results displayed below.
This is how I work with my referring
physician colleagues
In a rush?
Have a patient in mind?
Click below to email me for a quick chat.
Otherwise, please read on for my retrospective chart review
and how we work together.
Eliana Witchell, MSc, RD
We work together to improve your patients’ metabolic health. The tools I use are:
emerging,
evidence-based,
food-first
approaches to reverse and possibly put diabetes and chronic disease into remission.
These tools include (but are not limited to):
carbohydrate restricted diets (such as paleo, low carb, and ketogenic diets),
time restricted eating, intermittent fasting, and
very low energy diets.
The option used will be based on patient choice, motivation level, appropriateness, safety, and sustainability.
Safety:
Because these dietary approaches can be very effective, I use them only if they can be implemented safely while working with you - the patient’s physician. Often, medication adjustments are required as our patients improve their health. I will keep you informed about our patient’s progress as well as any concerns I may have.
Patient Data
2018, n = 53
I presented this retrospective chart review of 53 patients in 2019, and thought I'd share the data with you, my physician colleagues
1023 lbs. of wt loss
17 lbs. avg. wt. loss per patient
4.6cm avg. reduction in waist circumference
1 mmol/L average reduction in A1C
2 (out of 7) reversal of diabetes
2 (out of 7) reversal of diabetes to pre-diabetic levels
3 (out of 7) reversal of pre-diabetes and diabetes to "normal" levels
0.8mmol/L avg. reduction in Triglycerides
0.65 reduction in Triglycerides:HDL ratio
medication reduction (including antihypertensives, metformin)
medication discontinuation (including antihypertensives, PPIs, and statins)
improvement in liver enzymes, cardiovascular health, gut health (in terms of reduce bloating, gas, and heartburn), increased energy, improved sleep, and overall improved health.
Includes additional data on
Weight Loss, HgA1C, Fasting Insulin & HOMA-IR, Lipids, BP, Liver Enzymes
Clinical indicators for referral
Blood Markers of Insulin Resistance
Other blood markers to consider
Labs and nutrients to consider
Current evidence for Type 2 Diabetes Reversal / Remission
Diabetes Remission - List of references
Breakdown of the 3 levels of therapeutic carbohydrate restriction
Literature on dose reduction for Insulins, Sulfonylureas, SGLT2 Inhibitors, Thiazolidinediones, DPP4 Inhibitors, GLP1 Agonists, Metformin.
If you have a patient you would like to consult about, please click below to email me. We can schedule a quick chat.
I care about your workflow
I book referrals quickly, and update your
chart notes immediately.
I receive your referral
My team immediately reaches out to book the appointment.
We attempt to book the appointment within 3 weeks, by email and by phone.
I meet with your patient.
Often our initial appointment is over 90 minutes.
We go very deep, and detailed.
Chart notes
I personally and immediately detail all aspects of our appointment and send them back to you (as per patient consent) within 3-7 business days.
Clearly noting any specific recommendations. I will reach out to you immediately if there are any medical concerns.
Concerns or emergencies?
I call you and we speak directly about your patient
In patient consults, we go deep
We turn confusion to confidence
Initial appointments last 90 to 120 minutes
Before we even talk food...
We go very deep and detailed into the patient's psychology, physical activity, sleep, mood, family, career, schedules, stressors, medical labs, questions, concerns, etc.
This helps me understand eating habits, cravings, and all the influences on their dietary choices.
These aspects are essential to manage before your patient can expect lasting changes.
We review
Diagnoses and medication
Insulin resistance
Chronic disease
Cardiovascular disease
Metabolic syndrome
Lab work
Cholesterol
Blood sugars
Liver enzymes
Kidney function
Thyroid function
Nutrient markers
Iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, folic acid, electrolytes, etc.
This process is essential to your patient understanding how their body works and setting realistic goals for themselves.
Confidence through competence
Patients often quickly move from a sense of confusion to a sense of confidence when they understand the mechanism of action to achieving their goals
Patient Testimonials
62 lb. weight loss over 9 months in 52 y/o female with effective control of insulin resistance and joint pain resulting in the return to a healthy active lifestyle
I am a 52 yo female who weighed 200 lbs during the summer of 2019. My lifestyle and food choices led to the development of several health issues, including insulin resistance, joint and back pain and a general feeling of being unwell. I hadn’t always been overweight so this gradual weight gain caused me to feel very self-conscious and as a result, I began to withdraw from social gatherings and activities. I had tried many different diets but nothing seemed to be effective, especially in the long term.
In October 2019, during a routine medical exam, I was told that unless I took action, I was on a steady path to becoming a type 2 diabetic. My doctor put me in contact with Eliana Witchell and soon after, I began a low carb, ketogenic diet under her direct guidance. During our initial consultation, I knew that Eliana was the right choice for me. I initially thought that confronting my obesity would be sensitive and awkward topic, but Eliana always made me feel completely at ease during our discussions and I looked forward to each and every one. She is a true professional, who is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about nutrition and her enthusiasm is very contagious.
Throughout our time together, she ensured that I fully understood the principles of a low carb, ketogenic lifestyle and provided me with a wealth of information, including suitable food choices, substitutions, meal plans and recipes. She closely monitored my health and encouraged me to reach out to her with any questions or concerns, to which, she was highly responsive. I finished each session with a wide range of tools at my disposal and a strong motivation to continue.
Under Eliana’s direct guidance, I am proud to say that 9 months later I am at a much healthier weight of 138 lbs. She has truly changed my life and for that I am eternally grateful. I feel amazing! I have endless energy, I am no longer insulin resistant and I no longer have joint and back pain. This has allowed me to become, once again, involved in activities that I had shied away. I now feel great about myself; not just in the way I look but, more importantly in the way I feel. Please do yourself a favour and reach out to Eliana! You won’t be disappointed and she will change your life for the better!
N. 2020
52 lb. weight loss over 7 months in 42 y/o male with effective control of fatty liver and cholesterol biomarkers resulting in the return to a healthy active lifestyle
Good day Eliana,
First I would to say thank you to help me reached my goals. My goals was to be in a better shape, lose around 50 pounds, fix my fatty liver and get my cholesterol back to 100% (normal).
First I was thinking how I my going to do this so I went to see my doctor and he referred me to Eliana by email. The week after a got a call from Eliana we spoked for about an hour, she asked me all kind of questions like if I was willing to try her diet which was high fat and low carbs and I said yes so after I hang up with her I was thinking to myself how can you lose weight if you’re eating lots a fat? So I thought ok let’s try it and see what happens.
The first month I lost 10 pounds, I was like yup she’s knows her stuff really well. I am not going to lie it was like a roller coaster sometime but I stayed with Eliana recommendations and glad I did. I had more phone calls appointment with her through the last 7 months.
I did everything she told me to do and here I am now. Lost 52 pounds I was 198 lbs when I got referred to her and now I weight 156 lbs. My fitness level never been so high in my entire life. I went for a ultra sound to see how was my fatty liver and I was surprise to find out my liver was 100% back to normal so I also decided to checked my cholesterol and the first question the doctor asked me was if I was taking pills because I was back to normal.
I call this one ‘’SUCCESS’’ and proud of it. Thank you again for everything Eliana.
Y. 2020
>40 lb. weight loss over 7 months in 39 y/o male
I started low-carb/keto eating about 7 months ago. It has literally changed my life for the better. I am 5'8", and at my heaviest I was pushing over 270 lbs. I was always athletic but a significant injury to my back and hypothyroidism saw my weight creep from the 220lb range to over 270. After a trip to the emergency room (I am 39 years old), for chest pains. A quick diagnosis of really bad indigestion, I realized I had to make some changes.
I was put in touch with Eliana. We spoke by phone a few times and she was able to a) keep me on a good path with my eating, b) was encouraging and understanding when I wasn't as strict as I should have been, and c) is very knowledgeable and is able to cater to you. She even went as far as when a doctor I was seeing was apt to remove the low-carb/keto eating, she reached out to the doctor on my behalf.
With her guidance, I was able to go from over 270 lbs, to about 230 lbs and still loosing. Not loosing fast but loosing healthy. But also, with her guidance, finding it relatively easy to follow and stick to the low-carb/keto eating. I used to love to eat pastas and breads and pastries. I truly don't miss eating them that much ( I still have pastries every now and again). I still have a cheat meal every so often.
It is hard to capture in words how good I feel now compared to what I used to feel like.
J. 2019
Female struggling with 'food for comfort' resulting in sustainable lifestyle change
I'm so grateful I came across Eliana's website. I had just been through a very challenging time in my life and was stuck in a pattern of using food for comfort. I wanted help to make dietary changes but wasn't sure where to start.
Eliana is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. She always met me where I was at and made suggestions that were realistic and fit my lifestyle. I really enjoyed our sessions and would highly recommend her!
L. 2019
Male achieving goals in 14 week program
I have been working with Eliana for 14 weeks now with fantastic results. Not only have I achieved my goals, but Eliana patiently explained the science behind my diet.
We have been considering my diet as a way of life, rather than a quick fix. This approach is just common sense and will benefit me in the long term.
I would highly recommend Eliana to anyone looking to make a change to their diet and nutrition lifestyle.
M. 2018
Typical Reasons for Referral
Metabolic syndrome
Pre diabetes, Diabetes
(without insulin)
Dyslipidemia
Weight loss
Fatigue
Nutrient deficiency
Hypertension
Disordered eating
Autoimmune conditions, gut health
Typical Fee Structure
30 minute complementary assessment with the patient to ensure they are comfortable working with Eliana
Typical cost structure: Initial (1.5 hr): $180. Follow ups: $130/hr.
Covered by insurance if a patient has health benefits covering registered dietitians.
Thinking about a patient I might be able to help? Email me and let’s chat.
Eliana's Contact
Email: eliana@eatdifferentrd.com
Phone/text: +1.647.456.7952
Secure Fax: +1.855.325.9933
Faxable Patient Referral Form
For Clients
Good Health requires a team approach.
Let me be your Chief Dietitian Officer. Let me work with you and your doctor.
Hello Friend,
I’m Eliana.
As a human, I wear many hats: a woman, a wife, a mother of two active children, a sister, a daughter, a friend.
Professionally, I am a Registered Dietitian whose desire is to help you reach your health goals while ensuring you are reaching them safely and sustainably.
Sometimes, this can be done with conventional dietary approaches and minor tweaks to lifestyle. Other times (more often than not, if I’m honest), this requires thinking outside of the box and trialing less-mainstream dietary approaches.
Low carbohydrate diet, ketogenic diet, paleo diet, very low energy diet, time restricted eating, intermittent fasting, vegan diet, mediterranean diet - nothing is off limits. And because you are so unique and individual, I tailor a dietary approach that is specific to your needs.
My goal is to help you find the most sustainable dietary approach that will help you improve your health, reverse your chronic disease and possibly even put it into remission! Yes, this is actually attainable through changing the foods we eat and moving our bodies more often.
How powerful is that?!
We also take the time to look at your past medical history, stress, sleep, and physical activity as these all determine which dietary approach will be appropriate for you. But here is the problem: often you and I cannot do this alone.
(this is because the food-first approaches that you and I will discuss actually WORK. They can help you improve your health to the point that you are overmedicated, which means we need someone monitoring and adjusting your medications.)
Book a 30 minute complementary chat to see if how I can help you and if we are a good fit.
A Team Approach
Reaching and maintaining Good Health requires a TEAM. This team starts with YOU as the CEO. Your doctor(s) plays the role of Chief Medical Officer: overseeing your overall health, adjusting medications, etc.
What your doctor does not have the time or resources to do is help you adapt your diet specifically for your individual needs. This is where I (as the Chief Dietitian Officer) come in! I can help you adapt your diet to achieve the health goals you are looking for, while we work together with your doctor to adjust any mediations and continue to oversee your health. I take the time to keep your doctor in the loop (with your consent, of course) and ensure that any dietary approach we undertake is appropriate for you.
When necessary, I will even connect with your doctor about your case and as necessary provide scientific literature for them to review. This might be:
to provide evidence behind a dietary approach you and I are discussing,
if your medications need to be monitored or adjusted,
if you are struggling with any side effects (especially dehydration),
if we should consider ordering blood work
to assess your health status or monitor progress
to test for specific nutrient deficiencies.
Each step of the way, I communicate with the TEAM: you and your doctor.
Evidence-Based Options
There is no “one-diet-fits-all” approach.
The best dietary approaches (notice the plural!) for you (and your family) will depend on the types of foods you choose to consume (e.g. vegetarian vs omnivore), the stage of life you are in (e.g. infant, child, youth, adult, pregnancy, breastfeeding, athlete, etc.), the status of your health (e.g. diabetes, Celiac disease, arthritis, heart disease, etc.) and any medications and/or supplements you are taking.
Any dietary approach we discuss will be evidence-based. This means that I have reviewed recent literature around this dietary approach and/or connected with the leading experts and researchers.
So... how can I help you, Friend? Is there something you are struggling with? Is there a health goal you need help reaching? Let's grab coffee and chat.
About me
Eliana Witchell MSc., RD
Eliana Witchell, MSc, RD is the founder and Chief Eating Officer (CEO) of Eat ;Different RD, her virtual private practice in Ontario. She partners with medical teams (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other clinicians) across Canada to help their patients improve not only lifespan, but healthspan.
Her aim is for clients to reach their health goals. Eliana accomplishes this by using a variety of emerging, evidence-based, food-first approaches that have been found the help reverse or put chronic disease into remission. These dietary approaches are used only where appropriate and implemented safely within the context of an interdisciplinary team; they include (but are not limited to) carbohydrate restricted diets (such as paleo, low carb, and ketogenic diets), time restricted eating, intermittent fasting, and very low energy diets.
Each patient is individually assessed based on their PMHx, medications, lifestyle habits, and health goals to find the most sustainable way of eating (not a diet!) to help patients improve their health.
Eliana has partnered with a number of groups and organizations including Dietitians of Canada, the Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition (IPTN), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Wellington Dufferin Diabetes to help lead the development of evidence-based resources and webinars for RDs and other health professionals to safely offer food-first approaches designed to reverse or put chronic disease into remission.
Eliana is published and speaks regularly. She is currently working with UBC doing research around RD barriers to implementing food-first approaches to reverse or put chronic disease into remission.
Eliana is also the co-founder of Provenance Farms Ltd with Andrew Witchell, MBA. Provenance Farms is a data-driven farm which aims to take the guess work out of where the consumer’s food comes from and how the consumer’s poultry was raised. www.provenance.farm.
Publications
Rysdale, L., Witchell, E., Keller, H., Randall Simpson, J., Turfryer, M., McGibbon, K., et al. (2011). Parent perceptions of NutriSTEP® and nutrition risk screening in a sample of Ontario preschool children. ICAN, 3(4): 197-204. Availble at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1941406411414292
Sheeshka, J., O'Reilly, L., Bauman, J., Strano, M., & Witchell, E. (2011). Canadian Consumers’ Understanding of Information on Food Packages: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43(4): supplement 1, pS7. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1499404611001229
Witchell, E., & Sheeshka, J. (2011). Socio-environmental factors influencing food behaviour. Comprehensive Biotechnology (Second Edition)Volume 4:775-780, Elsevier. Online textbook chapter. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080885049003238
Working Group & Aboriginal Cancer and Prevention Team. (2011). The Healthy Eating Guidelines for School Nutrition Programs – a Resource for First Nations Schools.Cancer Care Ontario. Available at: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/sites/ccocancercare/files/assets/ACCUSchoolFoodGuideline.pdf
Previous Speaking Engagements
Online conference: “Evidence-based Carbohydrate Restriction: Using this tool in a safe and effective manner” hosted by Waterloo-Wellington Diabetes, Nov 27, 2020.
Webinar: Evidence-based Carbohydrate Restriction: Using this tool in a safe and effective manner” hosted by the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council and Institute of Health System Transformation and Sustainability, Sept 29, 2020; co-presented with Michelle Shepherd RD.
Webinar: “Evidence-based Carbohydrate Restriction: Using this tool in a safe and effective manner” hosted by the Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition on June 23, 2020; co-presented with Michelle Shepherd RD.
Webinar: “Evidence-based Carbohydrate Restriction: Using this tool in a safe and effective manner” hosted by the Consulting Dietitians Network through Dietitians of Canada, May 15, 2020; co-presented with Michelle Shepherd RD.
Webinar: “Therapeutic Nutrition: An emerging model for interdisciplinary collaboration” hosted by the Canadian Pharmacists Association on Nov 21, 2019; co-presented with Sean McKelvey, BSc(Pharm), RPh.
“A Dietitian’s Perspective of Carbohydrate Reduced Diets” presented at the Low Carb Real Food Show - Nov 3 2019, Vaughn, Ontario, Canada.
Therapeutic Low Carb Nutrition presented at Canadian Forces Base Trenton; Nov 2018, Trenton, Ontario, Canada.
Low Carb and Keto – A Dietitian’s Perspectivepresented at Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Conference; Oct 2018, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Fasting presented to Ellis Park Medical; Oct. 2017, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Common Nutrient Deficiencies [in Children]presented at Children’s Nutrition Conference; March 2017, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Is Sugar Making you Fat? presented at William Osler Health Center; March 2015; Brampton and Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.
Book a 30 minute complementary chat to see if how I can help you and if we are a good fit.
Coming soon…