Nicole Senior
Professional Profile
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Bio
I'm an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist, consultant, author, speaker and food and health enthusiast. I love talking and writing about food and health.
I have enjoyed a varied career over the past 19 years working in clinical practice, public health and health promotion, non-government organisations and private businesses. I now primarily do organisational consulting and writing.
I have written four books: Eat to beat cholesterol; Heart food; Belly busting for blokes and Food myths (published 1 Feb 2012) through New Holland Publishers. I'm also nutrition writer for Super Food Ideas magazine and also write freelance articles for Australian Healthy Food Guide and GI News (online). I provide regular commentary on food and nutrition issues to the media. -
Registration Numbers and Professional Memberships
Member Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) no. 92-031
Member Australian Association of Food Professionals (AAFP)
Member Australia and New New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS)
Member, Nutrition Society of Australia (NUTSOC)
Member Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)
Member DAA Cardiology Interest Group
Member DAA Food & Environment Interest Group
Member DAA Diabetes Interest Group
Member DAA Corporate Nutrition Interest Group -
Qualifications
Master of Science, nutrition & dietetics, 1992. University of Wollongong
Bachelor of Science, nutrition & dietetics, 1990. University of Wollongong -
Awards and Publications
Lifestyle changes for dyslipidaemia, Cardiovascular medicine in general practice 2011:vol 16;p 30-32
DAA Oustanding Contribution Award, 2010 - Areas Of Interest Weight Management Nutrition and Healthy Eating Type 2 Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Hypertension/High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Vegetarian Eating
Answers contributed by Nicole Senior
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When can I give my child milk alternatives to drink?
The first question I would ask is, why do you want to change from cows milk? Unless there is a diagnosed problem (and it doesn't sound like it if he's having it now) I wouldn't ... read more -
What are bioengineered foods, and are they safe?
The term bioengineered foods refers to foods produced using Genetic Modification (or GM). We currently don't produce any GM foods in Australia, and any imported foods with GM sold here must be pre-approved before they ... read more -
Are fresh dates my friend or foe?
Dates can be your friend provided you don't overdo the friendship! Fresh dates are certainly a good choice if you want a sweet snack and are much healthier than lollies because they contain fibre, vitamins ... read more -
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
Unfortunately there are no symptoms of high cholesterol. You can't feel it or see it. That's why it is so insidious because it could be doing you damage without you even realising. That's why it's ... read more -
How to boost the immune system of my 20 month old son?
Your expereince is a common one and a result of your son being exposed to many new viruses his body has not seen before and therefore has not yet developed antibodies too. On the upside, ... read more -
Could my child have high cholesterol?
Yes your child could have high cholesterol but the chances are lower if they are a healthy weight and eating a heart-friendly diet. A study of school children in Western Sydney found 60% had high ... read more -
Is high cholesterol only related to bad food choices?
You can have a genetic predisposition to having high cholesterol and there's not much you can do to change your genes but there's a lot you can do to counteract the effect of unhelpful genes. ... read more -
What is a high cholesterol category?
Category 3 is classified as moderate risk and this category is derived from the use of an absolute risk calculator. These numbered categories are used more in the USA rather than in Australia, however they ... read more -
What is high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance naturally present in every cell membrane in the body and is also used to manufacture hormones, vitamin D and bile. It is also present in the blood but can become ... read more -
What are some whole grain meal options that are healthy and tasty?
There's no doubt it's hard to make the switch once you're used to the taste and texture of refined grain foods. But there are some things you might like to try. Firstly, choose a fibre-enriched ... read more -
Should I always choose whole grain bread over white bread?
A recently published study by Dr Peter Williams addressed this question, or more specifically the more general question about whether refined carbohydrate foods like bread are harmful. His study found no increased risk of chronic ... read more -
Why are processed carbs (white bread, white pasta, etc) considered "bad" carbs?
Just like we now talk about good fats and bad fats, we also talk about good carbs and bad carbs because carbs are not as innocuous as we used to think (especially if you're already ... read more -
Are egg yolks bad for you?
No, in fact egg yolks are highly nutritious. The egg yolk is where most of the vitamins and minerals are so only eating egg whites is missing out nutritionally (and on taste!). Many people mistakenly ... read more -
How many carbs are ideal per meal when trying to regulate type 2 diabetes?
People with type 2 diabetes may not use the carbohydrate exchange system, depending on how much education they've received from a dietitian, and how well this system suits their situation. However if it is used, ... read more -
What foods increase hypertension?
Foods that worsen high blood blood pressure are salty foods, or those containing high levels of sodium. Foods that obviously taste salty like sauces, soups, bacon, deli meats, savoury snacks, pizza, fast food and cheese ... read more -
How can you get your daily intake of Omega when taking Warfarin
There is a possibility that taking omega-3 supplements in large doses may further increase bleeding time while taking Warfarin, however consuming foods rich in omega-3s in recommended amounts should not be a problem (eg 2 ... read more -
I am underweight, what would be the best diet for me?
In order to gain weight you need to eat more kilojoules than your body currently uses to stay the same weight. Doing some exercise can help boost lean body mass (muscle) however there's no need ... read more -
I'm 63 year old with a pacemaker and badly need to get fit & lose weight. What should i do?
Hi there, I'll leave the exercise aspect to an exercise pro however it sounds like you need to eat fewer kiljoules as this is the key to weight loss. Forget about low fat, low carb ... read more -
How much sodium/ salt should we consume per day?
The short answer to this question is, probably less than you eat now! Unfortunately it is all too easy to overconsume sodium (salt) these days because there are such high levels in many packaged foods, ... read more -
What are the signs and symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
PCOS is a disorder where testosterone levels are too high and affects 5-10% of Australian women of child bearing age. The underlying cause is thought to be insulin resistance, where insulin, the hormone that controls ... read more -
What diet foods are recommended and safe to eat?
'Diet' products tend to be those with alternative sweeteners (like Nutrasweet, Sucralose Stevia etc) used instead of sugar and examples include soft drinks, cordials and yoghurts. All sweeteners used in Australia must be approved as ... read more -
Does menopause cause weight gain?
The Womens Longitudinal Health study being conducted by Newcastle University is following a large group of women over time to explore their diet, lifestyle and health status as they age. Preliminary results show around half ... read more -
Do the same principles apply for men and women when trying to shed excess kgs?
Pretty much, but the psychological approach needed can be very different. Women tend to have a more complicated and emotionally fraught relationship to food whereas men tend to be more problem and solution oriented.Women generally ... read more -
What is the best way to diet without sacrificing nutritional needs?
I agree with Melanie that you need to focus on eating nutritious foods and minimise the 'extras' that offer few nutrients and lots of kilojoules.There's no need to focus on carbs or fat grams because ... read more -
How much omega-3 fats do you need?
In general, we all should be aiming to eat around 500mg of long chain omega-3 fats (like those in fish) each day. This amount is thought to provide for our physiological needs as well as ... read more -
Are blokes losing the battle of the bulge?
Hi Beverly, I think you've identified a common problem, and that is blokes who eat well in domestic captivity (so to speak!) but struggle to eat well when they're free to roam in the wilds ... read more
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