Posts by Dr Karen’s Team
Comfort eating: when food becomes emotional first-aid (and how to break the cycle)
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in front of the fridge thinking, “I’m not even hungry… I’m just… done,” you’re not alone. One of my colleagues, psychologist Dr Micki Pistorius, puts it bluntly: ‘Food isn’t meant to be emotional comfort, it’s meant to be nourishment for your body.’ And yet, most of us were trained…
Read More
Understanding Your Hormones and How to Work With Them
A guide to women’s hormones, metabolism, and intermittent fasting The Power of Hormones Men and women are created differently — and that’s something to celebrate. Our bodies, our minds, and even the way we experience life are profoundly influenced by our hormones. Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They trigger specific functions in your body’s…
Read More
When Rest Is Not the Answer: How Walking Helped Mrs VJ Beat Back Pain
The moment that changed her mind about movement Mrs VJ is in her mid-sixties, and when she came to see me, she had been in pain for weeks. It had started as a nagging ache in her lower back — the kind most of us have experienced at some point and assume will pass on…
Read More
How Mr LC Reversed Cognitive Decline at 79 — And What the Latest WHO Guidelines Say You Can Do To Protect Your Brain Health
Mr LC was 79 when he first came to see me, his wife by his side. He’d come in about a wound on his leg that just wouldn’t heal. But within a few minutes of chatting, I noticed something else — he kept circling back to the same stories, the same questions. His memory was…
Read More
When the World Isn’t on Your Side: How to Protect Your Health Goals in a World That Wasn’t Built for Them
There’s a moment most people on a health journey know intimately. You’ve made a decision. A real one. Not a New Year’s resolution that fades by February, but a genuine, considered commitment to change the way you live. You’ve read the research, you’ve felt the motivation, you’ve taken the first steps, you’ve seen some change…
Read More
Breakfast: To Eat or Not to Eat? A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Breakfast has long been called “the most important meal of the day,” but is that really true? In a recent discussion with Yovanee Veerapen (Dietician & Nutritionist), Dr Micki Pistorius (Psychologist with a special interest in neuropsychology and neuro-nutrition), and myself as a Lifestyle Medicine practitioner, we explored the topic of breakfast from different angles—nutrition,…
Read More
Case Study: Managing Blood Sugar on a Plant-based Diet
Ms IK is a single mother and busy businesswoman. She’s vegetarian for religious reasons. She has a very strong family history of diabetes. Her Mum died from kidney failure due to uncontrolled diabetes. Her father suffered an amputation because of diabetes and passed away after a stroke. She came to see me because she…
Read More
The day your legs decide your future
One moment you’re walking through the house like you’ve done a thousand times before… and the next, you’re on the floor, staring at the ceiling, heart thumping, trying to work out what just happened. A fall is rarely just a fall, particularly in people who have celebrated many birthdays. In older adults a simple fall…
Read More
What Does It Mean to be Fat-Adapted? The Science of Becoming an Efficient Fat-Burner
One of my students nearly blew a gasket after my midday Zumba class the other day. She asked me: “What do you eat for breakfast? I need that recipe so I can have the same energy as you!” When I explained that I prefer to exercise in a fasted state, and that my last meal…
Read More
How Fast You Walk Can Predict How Long You’ll Live
When we think of fitness, we often imagine high-intensity workouts or hours in the gym. But there’s one simple, accessible activity that says a lot about your health… walking. More specifically, your walking speed. We’ve all noticed it: People who walk with a spring in their step seem younger, more energetic, and healthier. On the…
Read More
What You See IS What You Get! Visual Stimuli Have the Power to Impact Your Health and Well-being…
I met a retired couple the other day. They had moved to South Africa from Europe for retirement and they were telling me about how they used to spend their holidays sailing the North Sea. Specifically, they enjoyed sailing on the open ocean where there was “nothing to be seen but blue sky and blue…
Read More
GRIN: A Simple Model for Lasting Health Change
When I reflect on my own health journey, I realise that the key to lasting change wasn’t just about knowing what to do. I lived with the complications of obesity, struggling with high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and multiple health challenges. I had the knowledge — I knew that eating 2 KFC Rounders and washing them…
Read More
Fasting Myth: “I can eat anything as long as it’s within my eating window!”
Real Story: When Jeremy started fasting, he thought he could eat his favourite pizza and ice cream at night and still lose weight. But after a few months of feeling sluggish and seeing no progress, he came to see me for advice. His blood sugar was high, and he had frequent energy crashes. He mentioned…
Read More
Sitting is the new smoking! Reverse the negative effects with a two minute exercise snack!
From Knowing to Doing: The Psychology Behind Successful Dietary Change
It’s no secret that we all know what to do when it comes to healthy eating. We’re all aware of the foods we “should” eat, and the foods we “shouldn’t”: More vegetables, less sugar, cut back on processed foods. However, despite knowing what’s best for us, the majority of us still struggle to make lasting…
Read More
Weight Loss Medications: Science, Origins, and Where They Fit in a Lifestyle Medicine Approach
Have you heard the buzz around weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro? Maybe you’ve seen the headlines or heard a friend talking about “that miraculous injection that helps you lose weight.” These medications are transforming the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but they’re also raising lots of questions. Where do they…
Read More
10 everyday habits that can help you live longer
Look around the next time you are standing in the supermarket queue. Chances are, several of the people nearby are living with diabetes, high blood pressure, excess weight, high cholesterol, or the effects of chronic stress. Most of us do not need statistics to tell us that we live in an unhealthy society. We have…
Read More
Myth: fasting means losing muscle
Real Story: Michelle is a dedicated runner and mom of two. She came to see me because she had gained a few kilo’s and her energy was low. When I recommended that she try intermittent fasting, she was reluctant because she thought that fasting would leave her feeling weak and fatigued. Like many, she had…
Read More
Short on time? Get the maximum benefit with this exercise snack.