Since the release of the Real Meal Revolution many people have jumped on the ‘bant wagon’ creating and selling meal plans and giving medical advice with absolutely no qualification or knowledge of how to work with patients. Many courses are being punted online that claim to accredit their participants with a qualification once completed. To put it in perspective: South African Dieticians study for a minimum of four years! Doctors for a minimum of seven! It frightens me that Joe Public can sign up for a 5 week online program and then start charging for seeing patients…..it doesn’t just frighten me, it petrifies me!
With so many charlatans out there becoming ‘nutritionists’ or health coaches overnight it’s really hard to know who to trust. Whether your goal is weight loss, improved health or managing a disease I believe it is of utmost importance to find a  QUALIFIED medical professional or expert to assist you in reaching your health goals. In saying that however, there are some phenomenal bloggers and coaches out there who do provide amazing advice, information and guidance.
At the HELP: Harmony Eating & Lifestyle Program we only work with qualified and registered professionals. Our multidisciplinary team consists of a Registered Dietician, Psychiatrist, Medical Doctor, Clinical Psychologist, Psychiatric nurses, Biokineticist and more. The Sugar Free Revolution Online program was designed by addiction professionals and ALL participants have a 1-on-1 consultation with a Registered Dietician who also provided all meal plans for the course. No, and I mean NO, nutritional advice is given by anyone who is not qualified.
So what I am trying to say is:
1. If you or a loved one suffer from a disease or illness research, research and research some more then find the world experts in that field and seek guidance, advice etc. The internet has made this part quite easy. We are now able to take control of our own health, ask questions, challenge convention and inform ourselves.
2. Make up your own mind and find what works for you. We are all individual and I do not believe that ‘one size fits all’.
3. I have provided a list of experts, coaches and bloggers that I turn to for guidance and inspiration. I don’t always agree with everything that everyone has to say but I love challenging my own beliefs and finding what works for me.
I have compiled a list of Medical Professionals, bloggers and coaches that I trust and would seek help from myself. This is just my opinion and yours may differ. I am not asking you to agree with everything that I say but rather to take the time to find out what is best for you.
USA/Canada
Dr Jason Fung – Nephrologist
Dr Jeffry Gerber – General Practitioner
Dr Ann Childers – Psychiatrist
Drs Michael and Mary-Dan Eades – General Practitioners
Franziska Spritzer – Registered Dietician
Dietician Cassie – Registered Dietician
Dr Jay Wortman – General Practitioner
Dr Eric Westman – General Practitioner
Dr Robert Cywes – Bariatric Surgeon
Prof Jeff Volek – Registered Dietician
Dr Dominic D’Agostino - Metabolic Strategies for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancer
Dr Colin Champ – Oncologist
Yoni Freedhoff – Obesity Expert
Dr James Underberg – Lipidologist
Jimmy Moore – Blogger and Author
Maria Emmerich – Blogger and Author
New Zealand
Dr Grant Schofield
Caryn Zinn
Australia
Pete Evans – Chef
Dr Maryanne Demasi – Science reporter and presenter for ABC
Dr Gary Fettke – Orthopaedic Surgeon
Christine Cronau – Nutritionist and Author
Sarah Wilson – Journalist and founder of I Quit Sugar
David Gillespie – Author
Damon Gameau – That Sugar Film
UK
Emily Maguire – Nutritionist
Dr Aseem Malhotra – Cardiologist
Zoe Harcombe – Obesity Researcher
Dr Malcolm Kendrick
Sam Feltham – Exercise specialist
South Africa
Cape Town
General Practitioners
Dr Neville Wellington – General Practitioner
Prof Tim Noakes – Sports Scientist
Dr Gerhard Schoonbee – General Practioner: Stellenbosch.
Dr Anna Hall – General Practitioner: Northern Suburbs.
Dr Grant Fourie – General Practitioner: Belville
Dr Duncan Carmichael – General Practitioner, Homeopath specialising in anti-aging and hormonal imbalances
Dr Ian Booth
Dr Johann Slabbert – General Practitioner
Registered Dieticians
Bridget Surtees – Registered Dietician
Tamzyn Campbell – Registered Dietician
Rael Koping – Registered Dietician
Cardiology
Dr Phillip Mills – Cardiologist
Dr Otto Thaning – Cardiac Surgeon
Psychiatrist
Dr Jacques Malan – Psychiatrist
Real Meal Revolution – Blog
Low Carb Adapt – Dr Eric Westman’s Online Clinic
Johannesburg
Dr Gail Ashford – General Practitioner
Dr Sindi van Zyl
Pietermaritzburg
Dr Margaret Shrimpton – margaretshipton@absamail.co.za/033-3869208
Durban
Bridgette Allan – Registered Nurse and Wellness Coach
Keri Strachan – Registered Dietician
Dr Lochan Naidoo -  General Practitioner
Dr Hansraj Singh – General Practitioner
Dr Raj Pather – Dentist
Dr Darby & Dr Karla Lott – General Practitioners
Dr Pieta Erasmus - General Practitioner
Dr Glen Hagemann
Sweden
Dr Andreas Eenfeldt – General Practitioner
Please let me know if you have any names to add, this list is a work in progress so all suggestions welcome.
xxx
Karen

“The Sugar Free Revolution was started to expose the addictive and toxic properties of refined and processed sugar and carbohydrates in our diets, and help people just like you to break their addiction, lose weight, and feel incredible again!”
– Karen Thomson, Founder of The Sugar Free Revolution