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 March webinar!
MARCH 2026 Webinar
Join us for an inspiring webinar with Professor Alison Bentley! Prof Bentley has been seeing patients with sleep problems, both adults and children, off and on over the last 30 years. After graduating with her BSc in 1978, she obtained her MBBCh in 1982. She ran the first private diagnostic sleep laboratory in South Africa from 1990 to 1998. After joining Wits University, she was head of the Wits Dial.a.Bed Sleep Laboratory in the School of Physiology for 10 years. Alison was the founding chairperson of the Sleep Society of South Africa in 1996 and the new South African Sleep Society for Sleep and Health. She served two terms representing Africa on the governing council of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM).
Prof Bentley pursused and completed her PhD focusing on Restless Legs Syndrome in 2007. She has supervised 30 postgraduate students, has over 30 published peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters as well as writing articles for and editing the newsletter Sleep Matters for 14 years. She is currently in private practice and runs a comprehensive sleep health centre in Johannesburg.
In this webinar, you’ll:
- Describe the need and parameters for good sleep
- Explore the relationship between sleep and health
- Understand how common sleep disorders influence weight
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to sleep your way to better health!
MISSED OUT ON OUR WEBINAR?
WATCH it here….
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…
Green Goddess Dressing
Makes 1 Litre Most commercial creamy dressings are "SAD" staples—loaded with inflammatory oils and preservatives. This "HAD" version uses raw sunflower seeds and avocado to create a nutrient-dense fat source that supports heart health. Ingredients: 100g raw sunflower...
Sorghum Tabouleh
Serves 6-8 This dish is the perfect entry point into the Heritage African Diet. It replaces imported wheat (couscous or bulgur) with Sorghum—a climate-smart African grain that is naturally gluten-free and low-glycaemic. Ingredients: 1 cup fresh parsley 1/3 cup fresh...
Supporting Patients on GLP-1s: The Lifestyle Medicine Advantage
Dr Lydia Altini MBBCh DipIBLM In early November, the first-ever South African clinical practice guideline for treating adult obesity was published in a Special Issue of the South African Medical Journal (SAMJ).1 With obesity now a global epidemic driving major health,...
Fasolada
Fasolada is a Greek white bean stew that is known for rich and simple flavours. The combination of beans and vegetables mean it is rich in fibre, packs a decent plant-based protein punch, and also offers a good amount of calcium, iron, and potassium. Ingredients: 500...
Shared medical appointments: An effective and efficient approach to lifestyle medicine
By: Dr Megan Michaux As healthcare professionals, most of our training focuses on the classic one-to-one consultation. We’re taught how to listen actively, show empathy, and keep the conversation centred on the patient in front of us. But what happens when the...
A Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Addiction
There is a huge societal stigma associated with addiction. Many people view addiction as a sign of weakness or lack of willpower. But we now have a whole new understanding of addiction and its management. The following points will be covered briefly in this blog:...