The Nutritional Institute

As I sit here pondering what I would like to write for you this week, I feel the warmth of the spring breeze drifting through my open window. Looking out at the garden, it is a beautiful Johannesburg day in late September – still dry from the winter droughts, but we’ve started to experience the first of the summer thunderstorms.

I believe we could all benefit from relying less on meat and upping our intake of plant-based foods. They provide a variety of micronutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients, as well as dietary fibre that feeds our healthy gut bacteria and keeps our hunger at bay.

The doctor is in, and she wants you to eat healthier. Eating a healthy diet not only benefits your physical health, but can improve your mental health too. Consuming the best food possible is important for optimising your overall health and that of your family.

I have this love-hate relationship with making sourdough breads. I tried very hard to include a recipe in our book Wholesome Nutrition, but at that time I was truly unsuccessful in making them. After consuming kilograms of rye flour, I was turning out bread that was hard enough to concuss Ian!

Sitting. Whether in our office chair, car seat or sofa, we’re mostly unaware of the detrimental effect of sitting on our health. But sitting has actually been called the ‘new smoking’ and can increase the risk of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and depression.