Shelly Meltzer & Associates, Registered Dietitians

12/12/2024

The fireworks for the Blitzboks win was ‘the cherry on the top’ - congrats to the ! Big thanks to all the fabulous folk behind the scenes that I had the privilege of working with to ensure all participating players were optimally fuelled at the hotels and at the stadium.

21/08/2024

My practice in nutrition has come a full circle. Back to grassroots and loving it. Lots to share. Come visit us where we are sowing our seeds .

04/08/2024

In anticipation of all seats being filled and good performances. Great to workshop sports nutrition with cricket coaches.

18/05/2024

Exploring food ways,sharing,learning and having fun. Thank you for an inspiring day. Thank you and Ethel Phiri for extending our palates

11/12/2023

Keeping a good balance, always important for performance

12/11/2023

Enjoyed the "Up Close & Personal" interview with Prof Mike Lambert.
An opportunity to reflect on some of what I've been up to.

Athletic Performance Insider

20/10/2023

Despite all the ‘noise’, 16 years later Shelly’s guiding nutritional principles are much the same now as they were when she was interviewed for the Femina magazine.

13/09/2023

Last night Shelly and Rowena attended an informative master class session with professor Kristy Elliot-Sale on menstrual cycles and performance.

After a post-session discussion there were a few takeaways that we felt would help us in practice to help support our clients and to promote health and performance in female athletes. A snapshot of our discussion:

Shelly: The menstrual cycle of each individual female athlete may affect them differently. We are so used to presuming there will be negative performance effects, but quite often there is no effect, or there may be a positive effect or performance enhancement during certain phases. Working with an athlete on an individual basis can help them figure this out, rather than giving out blanket guidelines or presuming the worst.

Rowena: We need to normalise talking about menstrual cycles, and being able to compete while having a period without embarrassment.
Menstrual dysfunction is important to talk about and get checked out - although it can be a potential sign of low energy availability and REDs, it can also be an indication of another medical condition (eg. PCOS) that needs to be investigated and treated.
Also from a REDs perspective: if an athlete does have a period, it doesn’t mean they don’t have low energy availability or REDs.

Conclusion: Don’t make presumptions, each person has their own experience, be curious about your attitude towards menstruation, and don’t be shy talking about periods!!

31/08/2023

Have you ever been told by someone that losing your period is normal when you are training hard?

You are not alone - this is a common misconception among athletes, coaches and even many healthcare professionals.

In fact it is NOT normal to lose your period or see changes in your menstrual cycle when doing heavy training, and may be a sign of low energy availability (ie. not eating enough to match your training needs) and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), with potentially damaging health and performance consequences.

A normal menstrual cycle produces hormones that are not only important for reproductive health, but play a critical role in bone mineral density, heart health, and brain function. Without these hormones functioning properly we stand a much higher risk of stress fractures, soft tissue injuries, early osteoporosis, heart problems, impaired cognitive function, and depression.

This is the reason it is essential to not ignore a missing period and seek assistance from a health professional that is aware of REDs.

It is also important to be aware that the pill is not effective treatment, and can actually make things worse.

Note: changes to one’s menstrual cycle can also be a result of other health conditions, which are also important to investigate.



References:
Gordon C et al 2017. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: and endocrine society clinical guideline.
Keay N. 2022. Hormones, health and human potential.

10/08/2023

As well as working in clinical practice, our dietitians are also involved in academia. Marie just presented a series of lectures at both honours and masters level for UCT Biokinetics students. Through teaching we keep up with the latest evidence and emerging science in the fast-growing nutrition field.

08/07/2023

A few weeks ago while watching a very popular high profile ultra endurance running race on tv, one of the commentators made a comment that one of the top place elite female runners “didn’t have a typical runner’s build”.

More and more female athletes are becoming vocal and asking people to stop making comments about their bodies, as these comments can have negative consequences (as they or those around them have personally experienced). Many athletes report that these kind of comments have contributed to less enjoyment of their sport, poor body image, increased dietary restriction which has lead to low energy availability and REDs (and this condition’s detrimental performance and health issues), compromised mental health, as well as disordered eating and eating disorders (as well as adding fuel to an already existing eating disorder).

I am sure the commentator was well-meaning, and unaware of how a comment as such, can send a damaging message to an athlete (as well as to many aspiring young runners watching the coverage) that there is only one type of runners body - which just isn’t true.

Let’s listen to the athletes and stop making ANY body comments. Even if you think you are making a compliment - you have no idea how that comment may be perceived or taken up by that athlete, or those listening.

26/06/2023

Coaching coaches on nutrition. Enjoyed the opportunity to present at the WECSA Coaches Seminar on nutrition for performance, health & wellbeing.