Welcome to Blueprint Health
Blueprint Health specialises in the ultimate lifestyle holiday designed and implemented around your individual health needs, addressing work-life balance, burnout, high performance, lifestyle diseases and inherited health risks. Our customised and integrated programs combine cutting-edge genetic testing with the spiritual and motivational components of coaching and the magic of Africa.
Blueprint Health Treatments
High-impact preventive and therapeutic retreats at premier South African resorts integrate the services of multi-disciplinary board-certified health care teams. Based on your unique genetic profile, Blueprint Health's specialist team of physicians, nutritionists, biokineticists and coaches will guide you through a tailor-made program that focuses on foods that match your genes, activity and stress levels, and emotional balance.
Diseases and ailments addressed by Blueprint include:
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Chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease
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Weight loss programs
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Detox programs
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Cancer Prevention
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Anti-Aging & Age Management Programs
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Yoga & Meditation
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Medical Spa Treatment
Program components
| Day 1 |
Health & wellness
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A genetic profile test, used in combination with your medical (family) history and current health status
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A tailor-made, personalised set of recommendations for beneficial lifestyle changes
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An experienced team of healthcare professionals assist you to obtain optimal health through becoming fit, losing weight, quitting smoking, relaxing, de-stressing and unwinding
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An individual session with each of the Blueprint Health specialists, using all the information obtained
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A coach accompanies you on the first month of your journey once you have left Bushmans Kloof, staying in touch telephonically
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| Day 2 |
Motivational & spiritual
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Customised health counselling is translated into practical guidelines for your everyday life
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Let the breathtaking vistas of the African continent put you in a state of receptiveness, calmness and relaxation
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Day 3
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Recreational & retreat
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Take part in activities that include full use of gym facilities, game drives, bush walks, kayaking, swimming, fly-fishing, birding and many more
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Relax with complimentary spa treatments
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Enjoy world-class culinary experiences (5-star cuisine, cooking classes, gala dinners and bush picnics)
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Ultimate South African Packages
Travel packages are ideally suited as incentive travel to retain highly functioning individuals and are complimented by an ongoing health concierge service tailored to your individual needs.
Our "Embrace your Heritage" package highlights the unique and high-impact combination of the African cradle of mankind with your individual inheritance imprinted in your genetic code - literally embracing the golden thread leading from mankind's place of birth to your individual origins and future health. Programs are designed to match individual inherited health factors to enable clients to remain healthy, become healthy or live a life where existing health conditions can be managed constructively.
"The Spirits of Africa"
The power of context is increasingly recognised as a driving factor to reach the tipping point for sustainable change to happen. Ruminant Bushmen rock art sites, breathtaking African vistas, pristine beaches, the Cape Winelands, the Whale coast - Africa puts you in a state of receptiveness, calm and relaxation. Africa creates breathing space for meditation, reflection and relaxation - putting you in touch with your inner self. It’s all about personal wellbeing and longevity.
Please Click here to request more information from Blueprint Health and Benefit.
Treatments & Prices
Services
Personalise health planning can be tailor-made to your very individual risks based on your genes. You can either elect to do a once-off profile with telephonic feedback, or you can incorporate genetic testing into our exquisite health holidays.
Once-off Comprehensive Health Profiling at home
As part of the Once-off Comprehensive Health Profiling, Blueprint Health gives you a view into your DNA in the comfort of your own home. The profile includes your gene test report as well as a telephonic consultation with a doctor affiliated with the Genetic Care Centre.
A mouth swab is all that is needed for all DNA testing. Request your test today by logging in to our client portal, picking the test combination most relevant to you. While new tests are continuously being added, current test options include:
- The Cardiovascular gene screen
- The Wellness Gene screen
- The Anti-aging gene screen
- The Obesity gene screen
The Cardiovascular Gene screen
The Cardiovascular Gene screen can distinguish between high-risk individuals who require long-term medical treatment and those at increased risk of heart disease, stroke and related disorders due to less severe gene-environment interactions. By identifying these multiple risk factors that may interact with each other to increase your risk, an additive effect leading to disease development or progression could be prevented through very focused health planning. Although this test is performed only once in a lifetime, it provides lifelong information on risk factors that may be more predictive of future risk than your routine medical tests. Cost $492
The Wellness Gene screen
The genes in the Wellness Gene screen are occurring frequently, but each does not have a significant effect on its own. Together or in the presence of lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, or unhealthy food choices, the effect becomes additive, meaning that the risk for disease increases. Identification of all these genetic and environmental risk factors that together may increase the risk to such an extent that the disease develops, allows effective intervention. Cost $676
The anti-aging gene screen
Did you know that the same risk factors that will cause heart disease or stroke in one individual, will lead to Alzheimer’s disease in another? When we see relatives develop age-related disease, we worry about the potential implications for our own health. The anti-aging gene screen aims to provide you with highly specific targeted plans to achieve longevity by managing your risks for disease from an early age. Knowledge about your genetic risks now empowers you to make sure that your lifestyle complements your genes to minimise the chances of accelerated aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Cost $492
The obesity gene screen
No two individuals are the same. Physicians learn that repeatedly when standardised diet plans prescribed to different clients don’t always have the desired results. The Obesity gene screen now includes state of the art testing, based on the body’s ability to metabolised starches and fats. As our knowledge grows about how our different combinations of genes affect our metabolism, meal plans will increasingly become more personalised. This test combination now enables you to have a truly tailored nutritional plan based on your genes. Cost $534
The process:
Once you have requested a test, your Care Centre doctor will contact you and a test kit with instructions will be couriered to you for sample collection. Within 2-4 weeks you will receive your personalised DNA-lifestyle Risk Reduction Plan together with a telephonic consultation during which your doctor will explain your results, pinpoint solutions and help you define health goals.
Diseases and ailments addressed by Blueprint include:
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease
- Weight loss programs
- Detox programs
- Cancer Prevention
- Anti-Aging & Age Management Programs
- Yoga & Meditation
- Medical Spa Treatment
Ultimate South African Packages
Travel packages are ideally suited as incentive travel to retain highly functioning individuals and are complimented by an ongoing health concierge service tailored to your individual needs.
Our "Embrace your Heritage" package highlights the unique and high-impact combination of the African cradle of mankind with your individual inheritance imprinted in your genetic code - literally embracing the golden thread leading from mankind's place of birth to your individual origins and future health. Programs are designed to match individual inherited health factors to enable clients to remain healthy, become healthy or live a life where existing health conditions can be managed constructively.
Please Click here to request more information from Blueprint Health and Benefit.
Qualifications, Accreditations & Certifications
Qualifications & Credentials
For over a decade, Blueprint Health has been involved in providing individualised pro-active care to many individuals interested in living in harmony with their genes. Our core philosophy is the integration of multi-disciplinary services, active involvement of clients and pro-active guidance through health coaching.
Based on your genomic chart, we can see where your risks are and provide a plan on how you can change your exercise routine, diet, stress levels and the like to reduce personal risks.
Hippocrates argued nearly 600 years ago that disease was a product of our environment, diet and lifestyle habits, and that treatment should focus on patient care (prevention). Ironically, the status of current medical practice is rather different and focuses on treating symptoms in existing disease.
Blueprint Health has been involved in providing individualised pro-active care to many individuals interested in living in harmony with their genes over the past 12 years. Our core philosophy is the integration of multi-disciplinary services, active involvement of clients and pro-active guidance through health coaching. Our service excellence is supported by an IT platform that allows clinical risk profiling and monitoring of health risks related to diseases of lifestyle. Personal supervision by an experienced, board-certified team of physicians, nutritionists, biokineticists and coaches enables the translation of science into practical guidelines for your everyday use.
Based on your genomic chart, we can see where your risks are and provide a plan on how you can change your exercise routine, diet, stress levels and the like to reduce personal risks.
Blueprint Health integrates two unique aspects into our programs – truly personalised health care based on high-tech, state-of-the-art genetic testing, as well as sustained solutions through hands-on coaching adding that high-touch element so easily lost in modern life. In combination, they guarantee you a high impact outcome.
No "one size fits all."
The Blueprint Health team knows that one's health and wellness is a very individual and personal issue and we will educate, implore and inspire you to implement application and principles of nutrigenomics combined with personal coaching. The team at Blueprint Health has developed a system through which they can guide you through the often challenging process of a lifestyle change on a truly individualised basis.
This new lifestyle management approach allows our experienced experts to address all kinds of health-related issues and aspirations, such as improving fitness, losing weight, quitting smoking, relaxing or de-stressing and unwinding – just to name a few. Our coaches challenge you to be the very best you can be to see real change, while being a companion on your way to complete your plans – regardless of the health issue you bring with you.
Dr Heloise Avenant, MB ChB
Clinician
Heloise is managing director of Blueprint Health & Benefit. The company focuses on personalised prevention and health management solutions for diseases of lifestyle to support a growing number of individuals and businesses that realise the efficacy of preventive care. Heloise has been in private practice for 12 years following graduation from the University of Stellenbosch, obtaining a B Sc -biochemistry (cum laude) and MB ChB. She is registered with the HPCSA (MP 039 5064) and became a licentiate of the medical college of Canada while spending six years in Canada. Heloise serves as a clinical advisor to Gknowmix genetic medical services and clinical consultant to dietetic practices.
Areas of Expertise:
- Applied neutrogenomics and personalised health maintenance with a focus on individual health risks;
integrated interventions to maintain not only health and wellness, but also to optimise the management of chronic diseases related to lifestyle and its impact on inherited risk;
health coaching and supportive guidance (following the solution focussed approach) to individuals both in the corporate and private health care settings;
- Research into the relationship between health and productivity lead to the conception of the first validated instrument based on the South African disease burden.
Special Interests:
Heloise lives her passions as an example to her clients demonstrating that life is there to live, seizing opportunities and taking control of those parts of life that one can influence. She has her roots in the soil of the Northern Cape, enjoying the wide open spaces and the smell of the soil after a thunderstorm. Shy enjoys being physically active in the outdoors, hiking with her family or doing X-country running as part of her fitness programme.
Her special interests in archeology, anthropology and evolutionary sciences contributed to her enthusiastic understanding of the adaptations humans go through and how we can manage our environments to ensure longevity.
Heloise is married to Pieter, and they have two kids – Bea is 10 and Wynand is 8.
Mag. Christina Hiller, MSc
Coach
Christina is managing director of Blueprint Health & Benefit. The company focuses on personalised prevention and health management solutions. Christina graduated as a MSc Coaching and holds a M.A. in sociology and economics with a focus on healthcare and hospital management from the University of Vienna. She is a certified, registered medical representative, a practitioner member of CoMenSA (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa), guest lecturer at the South African College of Applied Psychology and has extensive management as well as coaching experience in the airline, IT, telecommunications and biotech industry as well as in private practice.
Areas of Expertise:
- health and life coaching based on a solution-focused and resource-oriented approach
project management for integrated health care interventions including design, development, preparation and execution of the programmes
extensive experience in the corporate world
Special Interests:
Christina's passion is working with people on a one-on-one basis to elicit the very best they can be - and more than they thought they would be able to achieve. She has a talent of truly seeing people’s potentials and believing in their capabilities. Her humorous and warm way of coaching is inspiring and makes it easy for her clients to take ownership of their aspired hopes.
Being much aware of her needs around work-life-balance Christina follows her other passions: African wildlife, horse-riding and fine dining. She is a certified ranger for Southern Africa, a keen horse-rider and loves to prepare dinners for her husband Reinhard and her twins Sara and Isak always aiming at achieving top-restaurant standards.
Dr Kerrin Begg, MB ChB, CMSA
Management Consultant
Kerrin attained her MBChB (UCT) in 1994, Diploma in Child Health (1996) and Diploma in Obstetrics (1997). She then completed her medical specialisation, obtaining the Fellowship in Public Health Medicine (CMSA) in 2002. Kerrin is a trained Depth Facilitator, an accredited Thomas PPA practitioner, as well as certified in The Leadership Circle Profile™.
After a brief stint in clinical practice, she moved into the field of management, gaining wide-ranging experience in hospital and health services management. In the public sector, she managed an 80-bed District Hospital, improving efficiencies and performance whilst commissioning Revenue Generation Projects and implementing District Programmes for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. In the private sector, Kerrin was Manager of a 103-bed tertiary care hospital in the JSE-listed Netcare Group. Having first improved service levels at this troubled hospital, she developed and executed the strategy to relocate and amalgamate its clinical services to a JV Private Academic Hospital. Subsequently, Kerrin was interim Manager and Director of the JV. Kerrin then managed a 247 licensed-bed tertiary care enabling a phenomenal 17.5% growth in activity over a 12 month period.
In the non-government sector, Kerrin is a Trustee of an FBO for HIV/AIDS education & care (including hospice), and is a Director and Chairperson of The Sunflower Fund, an NPO with the purpose of awareness and fundraising for the SA Bone Marrow Registry. Kerrin whilst National Chairperson of the Junior Doctors Association of SA served on the Task Group to examine the restructuring of the Medical Association of South Africa (MASA), which ultimately resulted in the transition to a new organisation, viz. SAMA (South African Medical Association) of which she was a Trustee.
Areas of Expertise:
- Kerrin is currently an independent Management Consultant, working in Health and related industries, as well as partnering in the development of Corporate Health products.
- Kerrin is a part-time lecturer at the University of Cape Town. She contributes to education in Epidemiology and Health Management to undergraduate students and also to postgraduate students in the Masters in Public Health programme, as well as Leadership at the Graduate School of Business.
Special Interests:
Kerrin is married and has 4 children. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking and dabbling in photography.
Dr Anneke Ferreira, MB ChB
Clinician
Anneke is one of our health professionals with a current full time position as community medical officer at Wesfleur Hospital in Atlantis near Cape Town. After her graduation from the University of Stellenbosch in 2005, she worked at the Bloemfontein Academic complex as part of her internship in medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics. She is registered with the HPCSA (MP 0663271). During her training she developed a special interest in preventive health management as she realised that many acute care interventions are often too late to resolve health problems or to add quality of life to the patient. She now consults to the Blueprint Health & Benefit client base on health matters around diseases of lifestyle.
Areas of Expertise:
Individualised health maintenance with a focus on inherited health risks;
Pro- active management of chronic diseases of lifestyle to enhance quality of life, prevent complications and support treatment adherence
Special Interests:
Anneke has a great love for the ocean and the outdoors, and in her free time enjoys activities that revolves around it. She especially enjoys snorkeling and scuba, paddling and surfing. She is also a music lover, mostly classical music, and a keen singer.
She is newly wed, and lives with her husband in Melkbosstrand, near Cape Town.
Petrus Janse van Rensburg
Exercise scientist
Petrus completed his BSc in Human Movement Studies in 1997 followed by an honours degree in Sport Science the year after from the University of Stellenbosch.He received a BA in Biokinetics form the University of Pretoria in 1999. He is registered with the HPCSA (0058653). Petrus did an internship at the Advanced Health Centrum in Pretoria during the year 2000, followed by a full time position as biokineticist.
After a short stay in Oudtshoorn, he established himself as the full time exercise specialist at the Point Virgin active club in Cape Town. He has a varied client base and focuses on individualised and personalised fitness programmes, often accompanying his clients abroad to ensure a sustained supportive environment.
He furthered his training through several courses in sport related fields including injury prevention, sports massage and water aerobics and rehabilitation.
Areas of Expertise:
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Sport injuries with special interest in back pain and exercise
- Prescription of preventive and rehabilitate exercise therapy
- Prescription of exercise programmes for persons with the following: Diabetes; Osteoarthritis; Cardiac Patients; Back patients; Hypertension Sports injuries
- Prescription of perceptual motor programmes for sport participants and orthopaedic patients
Special Interests:
Petrus enjoys the South African outdoors as it offers ample opportunities for golf and other outdoor activities. Being a very sociable person, he prefers to participate in team sports. He also likes the adenalin rush of extreme sport. On a more intellectual level he enjoys following stock markets. Petrus chose not to post a picture of himself, as he is still single and values his privacy!
Johannes van Rensburg
Sport Scientist
After obtaining BSc in Human Movement Studies in 1997, Johannes completed an honours degree in Sport Science in 1998 and a BA (HMS) honours in Biokinetics from the University of Pretoria. He has extensive training in providing services to athletes needing specialized training programs and diseased populations like diabetics and those with disabilities. He is registered with the HPCSA (0005258).
Through an affiliation with Virgin Active gyms, he has gained experience in the prescription of fitness and conditioning programs for sport participants as well as the rehabilitation of injuries, in particular back and other orthopaedic injuries.
He has a special interest in chronic disease management and completed several courses in diabetes and exercise training. These individuals benefit at large by personalized training programs that improves disease management dramatically. As part of the doctor and dietitian team, the biokineticist contributes to providing a complete service by ensuring that information obtained is actually translated into constructive interventions.
Areas of Expertise:
- Weight management as an integral part of chronic disease prevention, including conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes - comprehensive exercise programmes in conjunction with meaningful dietary guidelines and counseling
5 years of experience in cardiac rehabilitation
- Special interest in healthy teenage and adult populations, since participation in a program that is enjoyable, provides the basis for embracing healthy habits that can last a lifetime
- Training programmes for people with debilitating diseases like Multiple Schlerosis, Parkinsons etc
- Sport spesific programmes - currently personal fitness coach to 3 professional golfers on the Sunshine Tour
Special Interests:
Johannes believes in living life to the fullest – “Its short, so have fun” is his motto in life! He was born and raised on a farm en the Eastern Cape and have a passion for nature. However, his biggest passion is people and he believes he can positively influence people of all walks of life. He is adventurous and open to new ideas. He love his sport and plays golf and squash - healthy living is definately a passion!
Melanie Harris, BSc (MedHons) Dietetics
Dietitian
Melanie works in private practice in Green Point in Cape Town. She has been in private practice for 7 years following her graduation from the University of Cape Town with a medical honours degree in dietetics. Prior to studying dietetics she did a Bachelor of Consumer Science majoring in Food Product Development and Nutrition at the University of Stellenbosch. She is registered with the HPCSA (DT 0021539) and is a member of the Association for Dietetics in South Africa. She has a special interest in eating disorders and is a consultant dietitian to the specialized Eating Disorders Unit at Crescent Clinic in Kenilworth, Cape Town. She also acts as a consultant to primary and secondary addictions and eating disorders rehabilitation centres situated around Cape Town. In addition to her work with disordered eating, she deals with a spectrum of dietary-related issues including nutrigenomics, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemias, and gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS.
Areas of Expertise:
- Nutrition counseling focusing on normalizing an individuals' relationship with food
- Disordered eating including eating disorders (Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa), and disorderly eating related to mental illnesses such as depression, as well as addictions.
- Dietary guidance relating to the impact that diet has on our genes and the outcomes thereof.
- Practical ways of making dietary changes by means of cooking demonstrations and lessons.
Special Interests:
Melanie is passionate about food and cooking. She believes that food and the act of eating are a sensory experience to be enjoyed to the fullest incorporating all of the five senses. She believes that eating good food is an essential ingredient for a happy life, and that everyone has the ability to balance the enjoyment of food and maintaining health. She enjoys being physically active in water and on land. She served as a surf lifeguard at Lllandudno beach and she can often be found walking or jogging in the vineyards of the Constantia winelands. She is a keen gardener, and spends as much time as possible in her garden.
Please Click here to request more information from Blueprint Health and Benefit.
