I grew up on a farm, and it was a great privilege. As a child, I witnessed chickens being slaughtered, cows covered by the bull, and calves born. Life was good!

The local farm school had three teachers. Grades one to three were in one class, and grades four and five in another. The headmaster taught grades six and seven. When a family friend asked what I liked most at school, I replied: "Playtime!" Life was good.

At the age of nine, I went to boarding school in Pretoria. First to Waterkloof House Prep School and then to St Alban's College. Both schools were excellent institutions, and today I am very grateful for my education. I was quite aware of the financial sacrifice my family made to pay for my tuition. If it had not been for both my grandmothers, I would have had to leave because there were not enough resources for it at home.

Boarding school suited me, and I was happy. But that first year though, I would often cry myself to sleep. The next morning a pillow wet with tears reminded of the pain in my heart. At times I could not sleep because of the pain. Then I would knock on matron's door and tell her: "I have a pain in my heart". She nodded and kindly said: "Homesickness". She then sat me down and brought me a glass of milk and two white pills. Over the next five years, I got that same treatment for any illness. Kindness, a glass of fresh milk and two white tablets could heal anything. Anything from a sore stomach, to a headache or a bruised toe. When it came to healing, the matron was very clever. Life was good.

Today I do not argue with creationists or evolutionists or naturalists - they are all right. You and I survived through the millennia or longer because we have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Evolutionary forces and nature shaped us. The foundation of life, the beauty we see around us, are all built on the micro-biome (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites). Without them, we perish. They are neither good nor bad. Attempts to selectively kill them is as futile as trying never to cast a shadow. Life is good, and we are wonderfully made.

Ever since the world was made, his eternal power and deity have been seen and known in the things God made. (Romans 1:20)

I teach health and wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. I teach The Good Way. I illustrate fundamental truths I have learned by relating stories of my journey on The Good Way. I have many other "health heroes." I have not as yet "arrived" but, I do experience joy, peace and gratitude for the life and the journey I am on.

We are not islands but are designed to be connected. It is just another one of the fundamental truths that inform my journey as a health educator.

I experience and enjoy my journey as The Good Way. I want, as far as humanly possible, to teach others to discover their Good Way with confidence and invite their family and friends to join them on The Good Way.

I am a Health Educator with a broad interest in almost all aspects of health, but I focus on Diabetes.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I am deeply grateful for the connection I already have, and the new ones I am making.

All things came into existence through Him; not one thing that exists came into existence without Him - John 1:3.

William Banting was an obese undertaker in England. A physician, Dr William Harvey, once suggested to Banting some dietary changes which turned his life around. He lost weight by limiting the intake of carbohydrates, especially those of a starchy or sugary nature.

Banting wanted to share his story with the public, and published a booklet in 1863, titled Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public.

He told of all his unsuccessful fasts, diets, spa and exercise regimens in the past. But then he changed his diet to four meals per day, consisting of meat, greens, fruits, and dry wine. He avoided sugar, saccharine matter, starch, beer, milk and butter.

His booklet became so famous that it is still in print today. His name became a verb: Are you banting? The scientist, Professor Tim Noakes, popularised Banting in South Africa when he named his high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet after the late Mr William Banting.

Source: Wikipedia

Timothy David Noakes is a South African scientist and an emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town. As an avid athlete, he has completed 70 marathons and ultramarathons. He is an author of multiple scientific journals and several books such as The Real Meal Revolution and Lore of Nutrition: Challenging Conventional Dietary Beliefs.

He was born in 1949 in Salisbury, Southern-Rhodesia (today, Harare, Zimbabwe) and moved to Cape Town, South Africa, at the age of five. He has earned an MBChB in 1974, MD in 1981, and lastly a DSc (Med) in 2002. Noakes is an advocate of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, often referred to as a "Banting" or "Keto" diet.

In 1967, Dr Christian Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant in the world. This feat inspired Noakes to become a doctor and enrol at the University of Cape Town where Barnard worked.

During his studies, Noakes joined the university's rowing team. His fitness training had a lasting effect on his life. He became a sports scientist and authored The Lore of Running, which was considered a "Runner's Bible" by many in the running community.

It helped many athletes reach their goals and went into its fourth edition. One chapter was devoted to the sports person's diet. On December 13, 2010, while reading The New Atkins for a New You by Eric C. Westman, Stephen D. Phinney, and Jeff S. Volek, Noakes had what he calls a "Damascene Conversion." Noakes had been known for promoting a high-carbohydrate diet for athletes but within a couple of hours of reading this book, he saw that what he had been advocating was wrong.

From 13 December 2010 to this day, Noakes has been advocating a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. His use of the term 'Damascus experience' is a reference to the conversion of the Apostle Paul who on the way to Damascus was struck to the ground because of a great light. Like Paul, Noake’s dramatic conversion changed his life. He has publically apologised for that chapter in The Lore of Running where he advocates high-carb. I have personally heard him say something to the effect “that chapter should be torn out”.

In 2017, Noakes published The Lore of Nutrition whereby he challenges conventional dietary beliefs. It was co-authored by Marika Sboros. When I had this book in my hands, I thought this would explain to me the full truth and only the truth of nutrition. It taught me a lot more. I came to see that many individuals, companies and organisations will tell lies, half-truths and shamelessly exchange the truth for lies.

As a result, the obesity/diabetes epidemic will continue to accelerate until, finally, it bankrupts modern medicine.
- Tim Noakes in Challenging Beliefs, p.123.

The Real Meal Revolution, co-authored by Noakes, Sally-Ann Creed and Cape Town chef, Jonno Proudfoot, became an international bestseller. Thousands of grateful readers emailed the authors with testimonials of how they lost weight.

In a controversial court case, Noakes was accused of misconduct but absolved from any wrongdoing. In a world of social media, real justice is often overlooked, and wild accusations can take matters out of context. Tim Noakes remains a real-life hero who has helped thousands to regain control over their dietary problems and subsequently, self-esteem.

Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Outside

Jonno Proudfoot is a professional chef. He holds a diploma in Food and Wine and a BCompt Accounting degree from UNISA. He started his career cooking in top restaurants and then marketing fine wines and managing big catering.

Proudfoot is an avid sportsman and set a world record by swimming 459 kilometres from Mozambique to Madagascar.

He authored the Real Meal Revolution book series and is the founder and CEO of The Real Meal Holdings Ltd, registered in the United Kingdom.

To spread the good news of a healthier lifestyle, Proudfoot trains the trainers. He has devoted himself to spread the truth about nutritional food intake and to regain control over one's health.

• The number of people with diabetes rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.
• The global prevalence of diabetes among adults over 18 years of age rose from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014.
• Between 2000 and 2016, there was a 5% increase in premature mortality from diabetes.
• Diabetes prevalence has been rising more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
• Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
• In 2016, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes. Another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose in 2012.
• Almost half of all deaths attributable to high blood glucose occur before the age of 70 years. WHO estimates that diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016.
• A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.

Source: World Health Organisation

• How do I get into shape and lose weight?
• How do I prevent getting diabetes with confidence?
• You say diabetes is reversible for most people. How is this possible?
• I am often inexplicably tired and I lack energy and stamina.
• My sexual drive (libido) is not what it was or should be.