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 […]
Eating Well in Janu-worry
As January approaches, it’s the 58th day, and it has a way of squeezing everyone… into tighter budgets, fuller inboxes, and sometimes even last year’s pants. The holidays are over, the festive glow has faded, and suddenly eating well feels like something we’ll get back to “next month.” ‘Tis the season of Janu-worry, when the […]
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 […]
If the UK can ban junk food ads, then why can’t South Africa?
On 5 January 2026, the United Kingdom rolled out what its government calls a “world-leading action” banning junk food advertising on daytime television and across online platforms. A bold move aimed at protecting children from being bombarded with marketing for foods high in fat, sugar, and salt in an attempt to address the troubling rise […]
Staying Low Carb During the Holiday Season: Protecting Your Journey Without Feeling Pressured
The holiday season is a time of joy, connection, celebration… and often a lot of high-carb, sugary foods. For many people living a low-carb lifestyle, December can feel like walking through a nutritional obstacle course. Everywhere you turn, there’s a treat, a family member insisting you “just have one,” or a tradition built around foods […]
Hamper Season is Here! Eat Better South Africa (EBSA)
Every December, organisations, companies, and community groups rally together to spread joy through food hampers. It’s a tradition rooted in generosity and care, but have you ever stopped to think about what’s inside those hampers? Too often, the default is to fill them with cheap, carb-heavy, sugary items. While these may stretch the budget and […]
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 […]