Nutrition

From healthy recipes for the family to immune boosting foods, this section will help you maintain a healthy eating plan.

Sign up to our Newsletter Click here

Healthy Life

Which drinks are best with meals?

Eating and drinking go together like cheese and wine. But is eating and drinking at the same time good for you? And are some drinks better suited to mealtimes than others?

Healthy Life

Small changes, big gains

It’s hard to modify your lifestyle. The solution is to make small changes that are attainable. Collectively they’ll add up to major gains over time. A Mediclinic family doctor has tips and advice to make switches that stick.

Diabetes

Glucose intolerance and insulin-related conditions

We asked Dr Jacques van Staden, a GP at Mediclinic George who specialises in diabetes, about insulin-related conditions other than diabetes and how to spot them. The umbrella term for these conditions is glucose intolerance, meaning your body does not tolerate glucose well.

Healthy Life

The many pros of probiotics

A strong, healthy gut needs plenty of good bacteria to function optimally and probiotics can provide a boost when needed. A Mediclinic pharmacist explains how you can get the balance of your gut bacteria right.

Healthy Life

A sweet addiction: how much sugar is healthy? [infographic]

The World Health Organisation recommends a maximum free sugar intake of 12 teaspoons and an ideal intake of six teaspoons or less per day. This can add up quickly when you start looking at the hidden sugars in most foods. Our sugar infographic looks at free sugar content of some household favourites.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • To prevent harmful bacteria being absorbed by mattresses we use protective under sheets made from polypropylene.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our 24-hour emergency centres feature state-of-the-art life-saving equipment.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • An orange has over 170 different phytonutrients and more than 60 flavonoids, providing anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and blood clot-inhibiting effects.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our hospitals did the first minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve implant procedure in Africa.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our hospitals have been awarded international accreditation for best practice in the management of environmental systems and practices.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • We found a practical solution to a shortage of theatre nurses by becoming a registered teaching institution.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • A jumping rope uses almost every muscle in the entire body during exercise.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • We use the internationally recognised Oxford Vermont Network to keep our neonatal critical care units at the forefront of paediatric medicine.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • We use a yacht-mast design for our cabling and keep it safely wound up in our trauma pedestals to avoid any accidents.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our radio-translucent theatre beds enable X-rays to be taken on the spot, without having to move the patient or disturb the procedure.
    #MediclinicFacts
Healthy Life

Cow’s milk versus the alternatives

You may have noticed that there are far more options in the milk aisle at the supermarket these days. Many plant-based milk alternatives such as almond and soy have graduated beyond health food status to become more commonly available and consumed. We asked a Mediclinic dietician about milk alternatives.

Healthy Life

Eat your way to healthy skin

Are you using sun protection and night creams but feel you need to do more to protect your skin? A Mediclinic dietician offers tips on which healthy foods also contribute to healthy clear skin.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • We install alcohol rub dispensers at our facilities to prevent the spread of pathogens.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Trauma patients with a critically low temperature will often be wrapped in a space blanket to reduce heat loss.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our nursing units are designed to minimise the distance between nursing staff and patients.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Mediclinic Cape Town is accredited as a mother and baby friendly institution, having scored 100% at a recent external review.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our hospitals have been awarded international accreditation for best practice in the management of environmental systems and practices.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Our expert breastfeeding advice is based on the principles of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • We found a practical solution to a shortage of theatre nurses by becoming a registered teaching institution.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • Mediclinic trains more than a thousand nurses annually at training centres throughout Southern Africa.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • We use a yacht-mast design for our cabling and keep it safely wound up in our trauma pedestals to avoid any accidents.
    #MediclinicFacts
  • To make the most of every second, we strive to synchronise all our clocks in the hospital.
    #MediclinicFacts
Exercise

How to boost your metabolism

Everybody’s metabolism differs – but there are ways to speed up yours to regulate your energy levels and weight better. A dietician at Mediclinic gives her metabolism-boosting tips.

Healthy Life

Eating to ease arthritis

There is no known cure or prevention for arthritis, but some sufferers swear by eating or avoiding certain foods. Rheumatologist Dr Sinisa Stankovic of Mediclinic Sandton offers a medical perspective.

Healthy Life

Make the most of your fresh produce

We all know that at least five servings of fruit and vegetables per day is recommended as part of healthy, balanced diet. Here are some handy tips on how to make the most of fresh produce, prevent waste and enjoy delicious meals.

Exercise

Top mental fitness tips

Can you condition your brain to become sharper and more agile as you age? Yes, you can, says Dr Peter Haug, a neurologist at Mediclinic Milnerton.

LOAD MORE ARTICLES