About Lifestyle Medicine
SALMA aims to establish and expand the practice of Lifestyle Medicine in South Africa by providing resources, facilitating certification and providing support to its members.
What is lifestyle medicine?
Pillars of change
Physical Activity
Recommendations support 75 -300 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week.
Healthy Eating
Lifestyle Medicine supports the use of a whole food plant-based diet as treatment for lifestyle-related chronic disease, which increases the intake of nutrient dense, antioxidant rich foods.
Stress Management
Mind-body and cognitive behavioral therapies have been associated with improvements in immune function, chronic pain, anxiety and depression.
Avoidance of Risky Substances
The presence of an addiction or risky use doubles the risk of chronic diseases.
Restorative Sleep
The recommended hours of sleep are 7-8 hours each night.
Positive Social Connections
Positive moments of social connection correlate with positive physiological responses.
We are excited to invite you to our November Webinar!
NOVEMBER 2026 Webinar
Join us for an educational webinar with Prof. Korsten!
We are delighted to welcome Prof. Korsten, she is a globally recognized leader in food safety and plant pathology, and has served as the President of the African Academy of Science (2023-2026). In this capacity, she drove a vision to establish the Academy as an inclusive, gender-balanced, and world-leading champion for African scientific excellence.
An Emeritus Professor at the University of Pretoria, Prof. Korsten is the Co-Director of the NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security and Chair of the ASSAf Food Safety Forum. Her influence extends from national policy where she has advised the South African Parliament on food safety legislation to global diplomacy. She is a key representative for African science at the World Economic Forum in Davos and serves on the High-Level Review Committee for the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), bridging the gap between scientific breakthroughs and international policy.
Her academic record is distinguished by over 200 peer-reviewed publications and an H-index of 59, placing her in the top 2% of scientists worldwide (AD Scientific Index). She has mentored over 100 postgraduate students.
Beyond her research, Prof. Korsten is a prolific editor for prestigious journals, including Nature Africa and Crop Protection. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa and the South African Society for Plant Pathology, holds an honorary doctorate from Ghent University and an honorary professorship FOR the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
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What is Lifestyle Medicine?
WHAT WE OFFER
Education
We provide CPD accredited education for medical and health professionals to support the integration of Lifestyle Medicine into their practices
Certification
Membership
Join the Lifestyle Medicine movement and support us to advocate for a change in healthcare so together we can address the underlying drivers of non-communicable diseases in South Africa.
Find a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Health Professional
Lifestyle medicine certified clinicians have specialised knowledge in the practice of lifestyle medicine. They are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse chronic conditions including, but not limited to obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Whats new…
Diabetes Remission: Changing the Conversation, Challenging Our Biases
By Dr Tumi Moshoeshoe-Mthombeni For many years, type 2 diabetes was largely approached as an inevitably progressive condition: once diagnosed, the expectation was lifelong treatment, increasing medication and the possibility of complications. For someone who had...
Black-Eyed Beans Soup
In the Western Cape, we still have the occasional cold day as spring gives way to summer. Soups are a favourite evening meal, and black-eyed beans (cowpeas) are a cheap but nutritious base for a delicious meal. Ingredients: One onion diced 2-3 cloves garlic, minced...
Asian Carrot & Cucumber Salad
This simple, flavourful side dish brings delicious Asian flavours together in a quick and healthy salad. It adds vitamins A and K, heart-healthy fats, and a fair amount of fibre. Ingredients 2 carrots, peeled into thin ribbons or julienned 2 large cucumbers, sliced...
The Social Prescription
Why Connection Is a Clinical Intervention When “How are you?” becomes a health question Lifestyle Medicine is often described through six familiar pillars: nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive...
Dahl & Aubergine
Dahl & Aubergine A delicious, simple plant-based meal packed with fibre, plant protein and flavour. Lentils, roasted aubergine and warming spices come together to create a nourishing, satisfying dish Ingredients: 2 medium aubergines, sliced (800g) 1⁄2 tsp...
Growing Lifestyle Medicine in Africa
Over the years since I graduated in 1975, I have seen a dramatic change in the disease profiles amongst my patients. This is particularly noticeable in the rural parts of Africa. In the early days, working at a Mission Hospital in Lesotho, it was rare to see...