Triglycerides
By Colette Dreyer RD (SA) Triglycerides are one of the most common fats found in the bloodstream. The focus is usually on the other blood lipids such as total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol known as your bad cholesterol, and high-density...
Probiotics & Exercise
Are pro-biotics beneficial for athletes? By Colette Dreyer RD (SA) The major functions of the gut are digesting food and absorbing nutrients. Pro-biotics is known to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut which lead to improved gut health and regulate...
Are you experiencing Acid Reflux?
By Colette Dreyer RD(SA) Reflux is when stomach acid backs up into the throat (oesophagus), which could result in symptoms such as heartburn, a sore throat, or bad taste in your mouth. There is a variety of factors that could contribute to reflux, including delayed...
Are you eating enough fibre?
By Colette Dreyer RD(SA) Dietary fibre is known as edible plant components that can’t be digested. Dietary fibre is an important part of a healthy diet. The are two types of fibre, known as soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble fibre dissolves in water, which forms a...
The link between Salt and Blood Pressure
By Colette Dreyer RD (SA) Link between salt intake and high blood pressure? High salt intake is a major contributor to increase the risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke and heart disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.5 million...
Can stress increase your blood pressure?
By Colette Dreyer RD (SA) Managing stress to keep blood pressure low Everyone handles stress in a different way. Do you eat and sleep more, or sleep less, skip meals or drink more alcohol? It’s important to identify how stress affects you. Stress is a risk factor for...
How much salt is TOO much?
By Colette Dreyer RD (SA) How much salt is too much? Did you know that South Africans consume approximately 6-12 g (>1-2 tsp) of salt per day? The recommended amount is below 5 g of salt (1 teaspoon), which makes the average intake twice the recommended level....
The DASH Diet
What is the DASH diet? By Colette Dreyer RD (SA), NHC Honeydew. The DASH diet is a diet aimed at lowering blood pressure and stands for Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (High Blood pressure). The diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables and focus on including foods...
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea & Weight
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. It is caused when the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway during sleep. The airway can be blocked...
Creative Lunchbox Ideas
How many times have you been confronted by a lunchbox that needs to be filled, and wondered what on earth to put into it? Or, worse still, one that comes back and has hardly been touched? Most children leave home early in the morning and only return in the...