our mission
Lifestyle-related chronic illnesses have one thing in common – an inflammatory lifestyle. Rather than accept the progression of illness as inevitable, and rely on medications to control the symptoms, would it not then make more sense to address and optimise lifestyle?
At Kintsugi Health we do health differently. We know and accept that medications can slow disease progression and manage symptoms. But we also know that optimising lifestyle and using food as medicine (rather than poison), not only prevents progression of lifestyle-related illnesses, but may even reverse the outcome of these conditions. Our mission is to make behaviour change and lifestyle optimisation simple, doable and sustainable, one small step at a time. We do this by moving over into the passenger’s seat and encouraging you back into the driver’s seat; by providing a toolbox of resources, including knowledge and strategies; and by helping you discover what works best for you and your unique lifestyle and circumstances. Whether your goal is simply to remain healthy as long as possible, or to get your health back on track, we’re here to help you take back control of your journey.
Our Approach
Your health is in your hands. Kintsugi Health simply equips you with the tools to be the driver of your health journey.
At Kintsugi Health, we believe that true health and wellness requires a proactive, personalized approach to healthcare. Our goal, first and foremost, is to help you to take back control of your health and well-being, by teaching you how to identify and address the root causes of your symptoms. Optimal health is about so much more than simply the absence of disease.
At Kintsugi Health, we embrace the philosophy of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold or silver. We encourage resilience – the ability to get up and to put yourself back together again when life pulls the rug from under your feet. Kintsugi Health is about a healthy body and a healthy mind, requiring the mending of broken thoughts, repairing of damaged foundations, and changing unhelpful habits.
We focus on empowering you with the necessary tools and strategies to achieve your health goals, while providing personalized support and guidance to ensure you stay on track. Our team of experts, including health coaches and Experienced Medical Professionals, are available to answer any questions and provide motivation throughout the program. Plus, our Kintsugi Circle Community serves as a source of inspiration and motivation, as well as a place to connect with others on a similar journey.
Nelda Swart
Retired GP and Founder of Kintsugi Coaching.
Nelda is the founder and practice principal of Kintsugi Health. Her medical career meandered through anaesthesia, GP practice and emergency medicine, and took her from urban to rural to remote locations in both South Africa and Australia. While she enjoys the challenges of clinical medicine, she has always been drawn to a more holistic approach to patient care.
Her work with HIV-affected communities in South Africa has taught her that everyone has a story, and that our behaviours and our attitudes are intricately linked with our stories. Behaviour change and attitudinal shifts require acknowledgment and honouring of these stories. In starting Kintsugi Health in 2019, Nelda came full-circle, once again taking care of patients in the context of their life stories, rather than just their diagnosis.
Nelda is fascinated by the complex interplay between the gut, the brain, the mind, emotions and behaviour, and its effect on the body’s delicately balanced functional systems. Reading about the latest neuroscience and gut health research findings gives her great joy. She is passionate about treating the whole person, addressing root causes of symptoms, and helping patients take control of their health through sustainable behaviour change.
When she is not working, Nelda practices to one day become an artist and a guitarist. Her three horses are her therapists, and if she could live in the middle of a forest, she would have been a happy hermit.
Qualifications & Associations
Empowering you to find & fix the root causes of your symptoms through lifestyle medicine & functional nutrition
Evidence Based Articles, Resources and Activities to help you take control of your health story.
Online Courses
Online Courses to help you achieve the change you want to see in your life.