When “Low Carb” Isn’t Really Low Carb: Looking Beyond the Latest Headlines

Every so often, a nutrition headline appears that seems to turn everything upside down. One week, coffee is harmful, the next it is protective. Eggs have taken this journey more than once. Recently, low-carbohydrate diets have been back in the spotlight following a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that examined dietary patterns […]
Small Shifts, Big Health : Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Day – 20 February

Almost two months after people make their New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more, much of this momentum is often forgotten as old habits take over and priorities shift. This reflects the reality that a lifestyle is shaped by everyday habits, values, and routines, including food choices, which influence long-term health over time. […]
When the Brain Runs Out of Fuel: A story of epilepsy, metabolism, and why food still matters

On International Epilepsy Day, the world turns purple. Buildings light up. Social feeds fill with ribbons. Stories of resilience, courage, and survival are shared, and rightly so. Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people globally, touching families, communities, and healthcare systems in ways that are often invisible to those looking in from the outside. But […]
High Protein, Low Honesty: Why Fitness-Themed Fast Food Misses the Mark

Fast food doesn’t make you fast. It doesn’t build muscle. And it certainly doesn’t build metabolic health. When fast-food brands position their products as fuel for “gains”, the problem is not subtle; it is structural. When marketing campaigns position ultra-processed fast food as compatible with fitness and performance, they are not just confusing; they are […]
Real change beats perfect timing – your health can’t afford the delay

Every year, January arrives carrying the same promises, new year’s resolutions that start with “new year, new me” or “this is the year I’ll eat better” and “this is the year I’ll fix my health”. Every year, for many people, those promises quietly fade by the 1st of February. The problem isn’t a lack of […]
Better Late Than Never: A Nutrition Shift Decades in the Making

For many people, the latest changes to dietary guidelines may feel sudden, even shocking. For others, they feel long overdue. At The Noakes Foundation, our response is one of cautious relief. Relief that the conversation is finally shifting. And concern that it took so long. Because this story did not begin last year, or even […]
Ageing with HIV: Time to Prioritise Metabolic Health

This World AIDS Day, celebrated on 1 December 2025, carries the UNAIDS theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” It is a message that resonates profoundly with a group too often overlooked in the global HIV conversation: older adults living long-term with HIV, many now well over 50, navigating the complexities of aging in a […]
Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) Program Manager

Position Title: Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) Program Manager Location: Cape Town, Western Cape Type: Full-time, fixed-term contract of 1 year Start date: 1 February 2026 Reports to: Foundation Manager of The Noakes Foundation About Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) Eat Better South Africa is a community initiative of The Noakes Foundation that empowers South […]
Time to Break Up With These Type 2 Diabetes Myths

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects over 500 million people worldwide, yet remains one of the most misunderstood chronic conditions. Misinformation doesn’t just confuse, it stigmatizes, turning a manageable health condition into a source of shame and delayed care. Let’s dismantle the myths that fuel diabetes stigma and replace them with evidence-based truth (1,2). Myth 1: […]
Beyond the plate: evidence-based lifestyle hacks that keep your blood sugar happy

Background Type 2 diabetes isn’t just about what’s on your plate… What you do every day matters as much. How you move, how you eat, how you rest, and even how you get your sunlight all influence how well (or not) your body controls your blood sugar. Small, consistent tweaks in daily routines can improve […]