Anél Kirsten
BSc Dietetics, M (Nutr) SU

Founder of Paarl Dietitians, Anél believe in a holistic approach and looking at each person individually. She is passionate about converting nutrition science into a practical lifestyle and finding a healthy balance between achieving your goals while still enjoying food.

 

Anél studied at Stellenbosch University and qualified in 2002. After completing her compulsory community service year in Potchefstroom, she then travelled to the United Kingdom where she lived and worked for 4 years as a locum dietitian and later on worked as a Specialist Paediatric Dietitian. Anél gained a wealth of experience during her stay in the UK – consulting paediatric patients in the Allergy, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes and Feeding clinics as well as patients on ward level, stroke rehabilitation and adult ICU.

 

Anél returned to South Africa in 2008 to persue a career in private practice and joined Stellenbosch & Vergelegen Nutrition Centres. Furthering her skills in adult and paediatric nutrition and dietetics.

 

Anél continued her studies and completed her Master’s Degree in Nutrition (2011) – her thesis focused on Childhood Obesity.

 

As an experienced public speaker, Anél often presents talks to the public and other health professionals – keeping them up to date with the latest nutrition-related topics and research. She consults regularly for the media and has contributed to publications such as Baba & Kleuter and Women’s Health magazines, as well as online magazine Parenting Hub, on various nutrition related topics.

 

Anél have vast experience in managing a variety of diseases requiring nutritional treatment. Her time in private practice has provided her with special skills to treat and manage weight loss, insulin resistance and associated metabolic syndrome. Anél has worked closely with multi-disciplinary teams to treat eating disorders and is another special interest.

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She has also completed the evidence based course ‘Treating the Emotional Eater’.

A person’s behaviour around food has deep roots that need to be acknowledged and understood-before that behaviour can change.

 

Other special interest includes Women’s health (pregnancy, menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome) and Nutrigenomics (DNA testing). Anel has completed the Foundations in Nutrigenomics course as well as the in-depth Manuka Nutrigenomics course. This allows her to interpret an individual’s nutrigenetic results and transition them into practical and personalised food solutions.

 

Anél is registered with HPCSA and ADSA.