Latest newsIt’s an integral part of South African culture to thoroughly enjoy the summer season with its long holiday period over December and into the new year. Hot days and warm nights are the ideal settings for enjoying the outdoor-focused lifestyles that give us so many more opportunities to be physically active and to unleash our sociable natures. But along with higher temperatures and the whirl of end-of-year parties, festive celebrations and holiday get togethers come shifts in our eating habits, and the risks of over-indulging. 13 Nov 2024 Read more We make choices every day about what we eat, and this may seem nothing more than mundane routine and habits when we have so much else that we need to think about and get done in life. However, sometimes, we just really need to stop and think about the profound impacts of what we eat. Our everyday food choices power us through a day of achieving at work or school, or not. They add to our sense of mental well-being and enjoyment of life, or not. They protect us from developing diseases and promote healing, or not. 9 Oct 2024 Read more South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, and this is tragically evident in the nutritional status of millions of our children. However, breastfeeding has the power to be an equaliser ensuring that no child is left behind when it comes to optimal health and development. Despite widespread promotion of the many benefits of breastfeeding, these rates remain low in South Africa. The country has solid policies in place and progressive legislation for infant and young child nutrition, although these are not often implemented and monitored consistently and effectively. Perhaps, though more critically, there’s a lack of a groundswell of support for all breastfeeding moms in our homes, workplaces and communities. 30 Jul 2024 Read more Winter is sweeping across South Africa, and the colder temperatures often usher in a different set of lifestyle patterns and daily habits. Many enjoy having a good reason for later wake-up calls, more snuggling up, tucking into comfort foods and warming up with extra hot drinks. However, the colder environment boosts the survival and longevity of infectious cold and flu viruses, and our closer contact in indoor settings can facilitate an easier spread of respiratory viruses. If you are spending less time outdoors in the sunshine, you may also experience a drop in vitamin D levels which is essential to optimal immune system functioning. 31 May 2024 Read more With an abundance of good weather, scenic outdoor environments and a national culture infused with a love of sports, it’s not surprising that active lifestyles are important to many South Africans. 10 Apr 2024 Read more While overweight and obesity are on rise in general in South Africa, including among children and youth, the worst affected segment of our population is women. The World Obesity Atlas 2022 predicts that 50% of South African women will be not just overweight, but obese by 2030. This is the highest predicted obesity rate in all of Africa, and a major concern when it comes to women’s health. 4 Mar 2024 Read more New knowledge and ongoing advances in nutrition science converge with our perennial quest for enhanced health and well-being. At the start of every year, we see predictions about emerging nutrition trends and projections about those that are growing strongly. While these trends may offer promising pathways to improved wellness for some people, it’s important to recognise the complexity of individual nutrition needs and find out if there are any potential risks before jumping on a bandwagon. 25 Jan 2024 Read more South Africa’s long summer holiday brings welcome relief after the hardworking, high-pressure year as well as well-deserved opportunities to fully enjoy festive traditions and indulgences. You want to make the most of the special times but also find the balance with your healthy lifestyle goals and habits. 8 Dec 2023 Read more South Africa bears one of the highest burdens of tuberculosis (TB) disease in the world. Year on year, the country has a high incidence of TB infections and tens of thousands of South Africans lose their lives due to TB disease. This is compounded by the prevalence of HIV-TB co-infection and ongoing issues with drug-resistant TB strains which makes treatments more lengthy and more costly. 14 Nov 2023 Read more What we eat each day has an extraordinary impact on our lives. It not only affects our vulnerability to diseases over time, but it also influences our physical and cognitive abilities, as well as our emotional state. Healthy food choices matter. They empower us to perform and achieve at work and school and enable us to enjoy our leisure time more fully. 5 Oct 2023 Read more Most of us are inclined to take our hard-working kidneys for granted. However, like all other vital organs, our kidneys benefit from daily healthy habits. Physical activity and sufficient sleep are essential for overall health, but so are our daily food choices. Our kidneys are responsible for eliminating waste and toxins, as well as maintaining fluid balance in our bodies, controlling blood pressure and keeping our bones healthy. 31 Aug 2023 Read more Working parents need all the support they can get to keep their livelihoods on track while raising families. This is most especially true for parents with a new baby. One of the biggest challenges parents experience when getting back to full-time work is what to do about infant feeding. Unfortunately, returning to work is one of the most common reasons why new moms don't even try or give up on breastfeeding. 1 Aug 2023 Read more Corporate wellness needs nutrition focus 3 Jul 2023 Read more While there is so much today that is trumpeted as 'convenient and easy', many parents feel overwhelmed by the complexities and stresses of modern life. Time is always too short. Family life is often frenetic; overloaded with arduous work, school, and social schedules. In the midst of all this turbulence, we're striving to do the very best for our kids, including getting sufficient good food down their gullets every day. 19 Jun 2023 Read more We're always on the lookout for a 'miracle' cure, especially those living with chronic conditions such as autoimmune diseases. Too often hope, driven by desperation, gets invested in the latest, greatest 'superfood', fad diet or nutritional supplement. While it is true that nutrition does play a critical role in the wide range of autoimmune diseases, there is no one nutrient, food or diet that can prevent or cure these debilitating health issues. 30 May 2023 Read more For the first time since the Covid pandemic disruptions, nutrition and dietetic health professionals from South Africa, Africa and further afield will be gathering in person in Somerset West for the 2023 Nutrition Congress. The three-day event, held from 18 to 20 April 2023 is co-hosted by NSSA (Nutrition Society of South Africa) and ADSA (Association for Dietetics in South Africa). 17 Apr 2023 Read more Over the past few decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in South Africa has risen to alarming rates. Overweight and obesity carry an immense risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Obesity is closely associated with numerous other serious health risks including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Half of all South African adults are either overweight (23%) or obese (27%). According to the World Obesity Atlas 2022, 50% of South African women will be obese by 2030, the highest predicted rate in Africa. 28 Mar 2023 Read more Load shedding dishes up a wide range of inconveniences and frustrations, but it may well be having far more serious effects when it comes to our eating habits. There are increasing concerns that extensive and sustained power cuts are leading to a rise in fast food consumption as South Africans experience fewer undisrupted opportunities to prepare fresh meals at home. It's our health, and the health of our loved ones that will take a toll from this pivot to takeaway and convenience meals. 24 Feb 2023 Read more Each year that passes amplifies how vital health and wellness are to the pursuit of living our best lives. We constantly look to the latest trends in nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being in the hope of finding better ways to nourish and strengthen ourselves. 2023 will be no different. What is becoming more critical though, is the need to be able to sort the fads and fakes from affirming, sustainable strategies that will truly support enhanced well-being. 16 Jan 2023 Read more When it comes to diabetes, South Africa, unfortunately, notches up some all-time high statistics. According to the International Diabetes Federation, with more than 4.2 million adults living with the condition, of which an estimated 45.4% people are undiagnosed, South Africa has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Africa at 11.3% of our population. To make matters worse, it is estimated that an additional 13 million South Africans, that's one in three adults, have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) which puts them at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This is the highest prevalence of IFG in the world. 2 Nov 2022 Read more
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