No pills, just paprika. That's the guiding principle of General Practitioner Tamara de Weijer, 37, who passionately advocates for lifestyle as medicine to prevent and treat chronic conditions.
Are you against medications?
'Not at all, but I'm convinced lifestyle changes can serve as powerful medicine for many chronic illnesses—both preventively and therapeutically. Conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gut issues, chronic fatigue, skin problems, migraines, and mental health challenges often stem from poor diet, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, and chronic stress. It only makes sense to address the root causes before reaching for pills.'
How did you discover this?
'I'd struggled with overweight for years, sticking to diets for just three weeks before binge eating kicked in. After my first pregnancy over six years ago, I was 20 kilos heavier than today. I relied on low-cal products packed with sugar and salt from packets and sachets, leaving me constantly hungry with wild energy swings. A friend suggested real food: fresh, additive-free, loaded with vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and fatty fish weekly. I ditched the processed stuff, ramped up exercise, and dropped 15 kilos in three to four months. I'd never felt so vibrant. For the first time in 15 years, my irritable bowel syndrome vanished. Thrilled, I knew I had to bring this into my GP practice. When I coached a diabetic patient on dietary changes, he shed six kilos, 12 cm from his waist, and reversed his diabetes in three months. That ignited my passion.'
Read the full interview in the October issue of Santé.
Meet Tamara de Weijer
Since 2015, Tamara de Weijer, 37, has practiced as a GP specializing in nutrition and lifestyle coaching. In 2016, she founded and now chairs the Association of GPs and Nutrition. She guided participants on TV's 'How Do I Become 100?' toward healthier lives, contributed to 'Doctors of Tomorrow' by AVRO-Tros, and served as ambassador for the National Action Plan for Fruit and Vegetables at the 2017 Food Summit. Her book, Eat Better in 28 Days, is out now. Tamara lives in Enkhuizen with her husband and two daughters.
Text: Belinda Fallaux | Photography: Bart Honingh | Make-up: Linda Huiberts
