Dr Ingrid van Heerden, is South African born, and received her high school
training at Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town, obtaining her Senior
Certificate with Distinction in 1962. She studied Dietetics and Physiology at
the University of Stellenbosch and graduated with a B.Sc. (Distinction in
Dietetics), in 1965. Ingrid furthered her academic studies at Stellenbosch
University by obtaining both a B.Sc. Hons., and an M.Sc. in
Dietetics, Cum laude, in 1967 and 1969, respectively. Her M.Sc. Thesis
was on "A study of the relationship between exercise, dietary factors and
blood cholesterol levels in a group of active young men."
In 1982, Ingrid was awarded a D.Sc. in Biochemistry, by the University
of Pretoria for her research entitled, "The nutritive content of sorghum
beer." She also obtained aB.Sc. Hons. in Psychology from the
University of South Africa in 1986.
From 1969 to 1991, Ingrid was employed by the Department of
Agricultural Technical Services (Nutrition Extension Officer), the S A
Cooperative Citrus Exchange (Dietitian), the S A Medical Research Council
(Research Officer), the Division of Biological Evaluation, National Food
Research Institute (NFRI), CSIR (Research Officer), the Division of Interpreting
& Translation, IRS, CSIR (Senior Technical Officer), the Sorghum Beer Unit,
NFRI, CSIR (Senior & Chief Research Officer, Chief Researcher), the
Bioevaluation Programme, Division of Food Science & Technology (Foodtek),
CSIR (Chief Researcher) and the Food Quality Programme, Foodtek, CSIR
(Nutritionist).
As of May 1991, Ingrid started working as a Private Nutrition
Consultant, and a Scientific Editor, Translator & Interpreter. In
February 1997, she launched the DIETDOC Nutrition Service on M-WEB.
Ingrid has carried out research in Human Nutrition with special
emphasis on ensuring that populations ingest balanced diets; Lipid
Biochemistry, particularly in relation to arterio- and atherosclerosis;
Vitamin Biochemistry, with special emphasis on B-complex vitamins and
ascorbic acid; the nutritive value of sorghum beer and related products;
Food Labelling in South Africa and the USA; and dietary fibre. In
addition to analytical research, Ingrid has also developed products
containing sorghum flour and tested consumer acceptance with taste
panels, calculated diets for humans in both health and disease, evaluated
the results of nutritional assays, and identified flag statements
for food products. Ingrid received a total of 10 different awards and merit
bonuses from her various employers.
Ingrid is affiliated with the S A Medical & Dental Council,
SAAFoST (South African Association of Food Science & Technology), SATI (The
South African Translators' Institute), the S A Nutrition Society and ADSA
(Association for Dietetics in South Africa).
In her career, she has published 28 scientific papers, 61
industrial reports, and 7 technical notes, and presented 27
nutrition-related lectures to a wide variety of audiences.
Her experience in publishing nutrition-related information is
extensive. In the past she wrote and published the original NUTRILIT (14
editions) and DAIRYLIT (18 editions), which were monthly nutrition
updating services published in hard-copy. She also wrote articles for
Medicine and Pharmacy Today on a monthly basis for 24 months. In
June 1994, Ingrid became the Editor of the Foodtek Magazine for
Foodtek of the CSIR, a position she still holds today
Ingrid is particularly interested in helping people understand nutrition,
diets, food and beverages. She believes that, "we are what we eat", and that
nutrition is a powerful tool which should be used more effectively to promote
the health and well-being of people in South Africa, and the world.
Her basic nutrition message in a nutshell is:
Eat lots of fresh, raw fruit and vegetables and you can't go wrong
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