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 August Webinar!
AUGUST 2026 Webinar
This month we are delighted to welcome Mia Lombard, a MSc Med Neuroscience graduate from the University of Cape Town, with training in psychiatric genetics and epigenetics. Her academic work focused on how early-life environments – particularly maternal psychological distress during pregnancy – can influence child neurodevelopment and mental health through epigenetic pathways. This work shaped her passion for translating complex neuroscience into practical, evidence-based strategies. She now applies this knowledge to animal behaviour and wellbeing, combining her neuroscience background with evidence-based, positive reinforcement approaches to understand behaviour from the inside out and support the physical, emotional and behavioural wellbeing of animals and their caregivers.
In this session, you’ll:
- Describe the prevalence and clinical relevance of maternal psychological distress in South Africa and other LMIC’s (Low-and-middle-income countries).
- Explain how prenatal psychological distress may influence child neurodevelopment and mental health through epigenetics.
- Interpret key findings from a South African birth cohort study linking maternal distress to early language development outcomes.
- Recognise pregnancy as a biologically sensitive window in which maternal mental health may influence child health outcomes via epigenetic mechanisms.
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…
Love Don’t Cost a Thing: Deinfluencing Valentine’s Day Through the Lens of Lifestyle Medicine
By Dr Nyasha Gogoma Picture this: rose petals strewn across the floor, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a chilled bottle of wine, and a gourmet candlelit dinner – a Valentine’s Day scene straight out of a TikTok. The 14th of February can be a highly polarising day;...
Alcohol and Health: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
By Dr Megan Michaux Perhaps the black sheep of the lifestyle medicine family, the harmful substances and behaviours pillar, often gets pushed aside during discussions and consultations. Why? Maybe because it is one of the most challenging areas to change, or because...
Mango Coleslaw with Tangy Oil-Free Dressing
Dr Lydia Altini It’s mango season! Combine the natural sweetness of ripe mango with crisp, colourful vegetables and a tangy oil-free dressing for a refreshing dish that feels like a taste of the Caribbean on a warm summer’s day. This vibrant mango coleslaw is light...
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,...