The 4th R: Why Real Food Education Belongs in Every Classroom
At the core of education are the three R’s: reading, writing, and reasoning. But in today’s world, a fourth R is becoming just as important: Real Food Literacy. While schools equip learners with the skills to think critically and communicate effectively, few help them understand how the foods they eat affect their energy, focus, and […]
World Food Day 2025: What Makes Food “Real” and Why It Matters
Food is not just something we eat or something to help us feel “less hungry”; it’s a foundation of health, culture, and society. But in our modern world, where packaged convenience has become the norm, is it possible that the meaning of “food” has been lost? Today, much of what we consume is ultra-processed food, […]
Healthy Hearts, Healthy Futures
September is World Heart Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths annually (World Health Organization, 2023). Despite advances in medicine, lifestyle-related risk factors such as poor diet, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension remain key […]
Why the Wrong Diet Can Be as Risky as the Wrong Dose
World Patient Safety Day reminds us that safety in healthcare extends far beyond medication; it encompasses the food on our plates. For people living with type 1 diabetes, diet is not just about managing weight or energy; it is a cornerstone of safety, as critical as the correct insulin dose. A new 2025 systematic review […]
From Waiting Room to Wake-Up Call: Dunoon’s Outreach in Motion
On Tuesday, 09 September, the Dunoon Community Health Centre became a vibrant space for connection, education, and personal empowerment. The Noakes Foundation and Eat Better South Africa team set up in the waiting area for a special outreach event, bringing science, support and stories of hope directly to the community. We were joined by Diane […]
Cracking the Code on Perimenopause Hormones, Inflammation, and the Right Diet
Perimenopause often feels like your body changed the rules overnight. One day you’re coasting along, and the next you’re dealing with hot flashes, brain fog, restless sleep, or that stubborn weight that seems to settle right around the middle (1,2,3). None of this is “all in your head.” These shifts are tied to real changes […]
The Vicious Cycle: How PCOS and Insulin Resistance Feed Each Other (and What You Can Do About It)
Introduction If you’re living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), you may feel as though you’ve been bombarded with advice, much of it contradictory. It can be overwhelming to navigate, especially when so many people seem to have an opinion about your body. The reality is that PCOS is far more complex than it is often […]
What she says is what she does: Survey versus behavioural measures of food choice
How often did you eat a piece of white bread in the past four weeks? 1 slice per week? More? Are reported memories of food intake similar to actual food behaviour? Much of the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in developing and developed countries is driven by what people eat and drink, so influencing dietary […]
Celebrating 10 Years of Impact: Honouring Jayne Bullen’s Legacy
This year marks a powerful and emotional milestone for us at The Noakes Foundation, as we celebrate 10 years of Jayne Bullen’s unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and transformative impact on our organization and the broader health community. Jayne joined The Noakes Foundation in March 2015 as its first employee and quickly became an instrumental force […]
Transforming Tuberculosis care through nutrition: the exciting new study in Dunoon
March 24th marks World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, a moment to reflect on global efforts to end this devastating disease. At The Noakes Foundation, we are dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutritional interventions that improve health outcomes for those at risk of or who have been diagnosed with TB, particularly when comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and […]