Melanie Thomassian Interview

We recently had an opportunity to interview Melanie...

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

I'm originally from Northern Ireland, but have been living in Australia with my husband since 2007. Following our move to Australia I began my own website, Dietriffic.com, where I share tips on how to eat healthy, exercise, and simply enjoy a happier lifestyle.

For some time now I have also been writing a weekly column for Health Central on the topic of heart disease, cholesterol lowering, and other lifestyle recommendations specifically geared towards improving heart health.

2. Can you let our readers know what one could expect when seeking the services of a dietitian?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

Registered dietitians translate the science of nutrition into everyday information about food and health. This includes personalized nutrition plans, preventing and treating illnesses through the promotion of good eating habits, and suggesting appropriate dietary modifications.

A professional dietitian will make sure you receive information that is specific to your individual needs, and in accordance with scientific guidelines. This is important in an age where there is so much confusion surrounding what a 'healthy diet' really means.

3. While most of our readers don't have a dietitian, good nutrition and healthy eating is still a goal. Can you tell us what is the #1 error, or misconception you have seen about healthy eating?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

One error that seems to come up over and over again is the low-carb issue. It's certainly no secret that following a low-carb diet can result in initial weight loss. The frustrating thing for me is the potential for harmful consequences, which low-carb supporters rarely point out.

Some of these problems include heart arrhythmias, osteoporosis, kidney damage, lipid abnormalities, and dehydration. Obviously this is worst-case scenario, but it isn't something to take lightly.

I strongly advise against low-carb diets, and instead promote a healthy, whole diet including high fibre carbohydrates, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

4. You write about celebrity diets and the wacky things they try. What would a sensible diet consist of for our readers wanting to lose 5 to 20 lbs?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

Establishing a regular eating pattern is extremely important when you're trying to lose weight, and it also helps prevent binging. Generally, you should aim for 3 meals, and 2-3 healthy snacks each day.

Try to choose a range of healthy foods from each of the food groups to keep things interesting – boredom is a killer for any diet (hence why 'fad diets' don't work!). Include a variety of:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Legumes – peas, beans, lentils
• Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs
• Multigrain breads, high fibre cereals
• Brown rice, wholegrain pasta, noodles, potatoes
• Milk, yoghurt, cheese
• Nuts and seeds
• Small amounts of healthy fats

• 25% of your plate should be filled with grains or starchy foods, such as rice, pasta, potatoes, corn, or peas.
• 25% should be protein foods, such as lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, or tofu.
• 50% of your plate should be filled with non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or a mixed salad.
• Finish off with a piece of fruit and your meal is pretty well balanced.

5. In your article "Is Food Your Medicine", you talk about finding the cause of pains instead of immediately popping a pill. You gave your own example of how you increase your water intake when you have a headache. How could our readers use this same principle for other discomforts?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

Yes, I love this concept! A few years back I met an elderly gentleman, who reminded me pain is the body's natural way of letting us know something's wrong. So, if you suffer from an ailment, try to think 'outside the box' and look for the source of your problem, rather than simply popping a pill. By doing this it may even be possible to avoid a re occurrence in the future.

Here are a few examples of how this principle could be applied:

• Strengthening the muscles in the bottom of the back can help relieve lower back pain. Gentle exercises such as Pilates are very effective, and it's much better than popping pills every day.
• If you have the common cold it's well known that antibiotics don't help. So, the best thing you can do it get plenty of rest, drink honey and ginger tea to sooth a sore throat, and eat a healthy diet, including fresh fruits and veggies.
• When I get a headache I drink a couple of glasses of water before considering a pain reliever. It's thought that dehydration can be a cause of headaches, and although the scientific evidence is a little sketchy, I do find this usually works for me.
• If you suffer from acid reflux, track back your days events to see if you can find the potential "trigger." For example poor eating habits, or stress, and then try to avoid this in the future, rather than taking prescription medication to relieve your symptoms.

Obviously this is not always possible, and sometimes a visit to your doctor is in order. However, I do feel that drugs are not always the answer, and perhaps taking a look at your lifestyle as a whole would be more fitting in many cases.

6. Nutrition and healthy eating requires lifestyle changes for many people. These can be difficult enough to do for oneself. Can you suggest for our readers how a mother might proceed with these changes for her family?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

I think one of the most important things is to set a good example through your own actions. Children in particular learn many of their behaviors by watching what their older siblings and parents do, so being enthusiastic about healthy food will certainly rub off.

It's also important to have plenty of healthy food in your home, and to make it's easily accessible. Here are a few tips for the whole family:

• Make a large bowl of fruit salad and store in the fridge.
• Ensure that your fruit bowl is always stocked with delicious fruit and placed in a central area.
• Store sliced raw vegetables in your fridge along with a healthy dip.
• Puree, chop, or grate veggies to disguise in baked goods, curries, stews, and sauces.
• Experiments with herbs and spices to reinvent vegetable dishes.
• Add peas, beans or lentils to soups, stews, and curries.

7. Snacking between meals provides the energy to get the work done and keep mental alertness sharp. The common error people make is not in snacking, but in what they choose to snack on. What would be sensible guidelines for readers in choosing a snack?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

Even if your main meals are well balanced, it's very easy to put your total diet out of sync with a few poor choices in snacks.

The most important thing to be aware of is the type of foods you're snacking on. Choose foods that don't contain too much fat, sugar or salt, and opt for those that provide you with more calcium, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Take a look at food labels and choose those containing:

• Fat content not more than 3 grams per 100 grams
• Sugar content not more than 2 grams per 100 grams
• Sodium not more than 0.1 grams per 100g

My favorite healthy snacks are:

• Triangles of toasted wholemeal pita bread with hummus and baby tomatoes
• Low calorie hot chocolate served with slices of granny smith apple
• Small handful of mixed unsalted nuts
• 1/2 cup whole orange juice, frozen and eaten as sorbet
• Celery sticks spread with peanut butter and sprinkled with raisins

8. And the last question. You aim to provide your blog readers factual nutritional data from relevant research. Can you tell us what inspires you to take on this responsibility?

Answer from Melanie Thomassian:

I'm extremely passionate about nutrition, however the dietary misinformation that abounds really frustrates me, and I'm constantly amazed at how much confusion there is concerning 'healthy eating;' it's no wonder many of my clients are disheartened.

I hope that Dietriffic will be a place where people can find trustworthy, reliable information, which will help them make sense of their nutritional requirements, and ultimately help them achieve a healthy, happy life without resorting to 'fad' diets.

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