About Nicola

Most of my life has been about health. When I was about 6 years old my older brother was constantly ill. My mother, out of desperation, went against the grain and found a naturopath who advised her to stop using antibiotics and to avoid using milk products. She also explained the fundamentals of a healthy diet, emphasising the importance of “ getting back to basics”.

My mother, in her wisdom, decided to do this for the whole family. The results were amazing! My brother recovered; we all stopped getting colds and my mother became a health addict. She had always been an avid cook and began preparing whole, natural foods for us  - I remember, when I was at school, having to eat sandwiches made from home-made, brown bread, held together by avocado and salad. How I longed for white bread and melrose cheese! How thankful I now am for those sandwiches made with love and full of goodness.

As I came into my teens I became aware of the need to eat well in order to stay well. From a young age I realised that we only get one body and the better we treat it the better it will serve us. That is not to say that I didn't stay up late, drink too much and smoke to be cool, but I always felt that this was going against nature. As I dealt with highly stressful jobs in the hotel industry I became increasingly aware that looking after my body was not enough - I also needed to look after my emotional and spiritual well-being.

So, at the age of 27, I became involed in setting up and running an organic olive and vegetable farm. I loved it!
I was in nature, in a new challenging environment, and I had time to take care of myself and explore the connection between my emotions, spirit and body.

I was  contemplating running a retreat for stressed out city slickers but then I read a book that changed my life! The book is “The Optimum Nutrition Bible” by Patrick Holford. The book talked about everything I had ever believed, about good nutrition and more. It was a recipe for living a good, healthy, happy life.

I realised that nutritional therapy would combine my two passions; helping people and preparing and eating healthy food. I moved to the UK and studied a diploma in nutritional therapy. While studying I was fortunate to work at Fresh and Wild (now Wholefoods) - the most amazing health store. I loved working there because I knew that every product they sold was good quality and it did what it said.

Upon returning to Cape Town with my husband Mike in tow (also a nutritional therapist) I went into private practice as a nutritional therapist. However, I missed the buzz of the health shop and being able to help so many people. I decided to open a health shop along the lines of what I had been exposed to in London but on a much smaller scale.

In my life I try to practise balance; balance to me is the key to living a harmonious life. Living the perfect life can be stressful, but having the perfect diet and overexercising can create more stress than do good. Balance to me means doing the good stuff most of the time but having the flexibility to enjoy life. I tell clients the path towards health and happiness is different for each of us and it is important that we reach a point that is comfortable for us.

Qualifications

BA Psychology

Post-Graduate Hotel Management, UK

Dip Nutritional Therapy, UK

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