Kris Vingrys is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Registered Nutritionist, holding professional memberships with the Dietitians Association of Australia and Nutrition Society of Australia. She has clinical experience as a private practice dietitian, primarily working in chronic disease management, and has previously worked with Nutrition Australia as a workplace consultant.

Kris is a founding member of the First Year College. She teaches human nutrition units and plays a key role in developing nutrition units for the block model, with a focus on creating interactive learning activities relating to current topics. She is also a member of the Victoria University Public Health Network and an active member of health and wellbeing committees within VU and in the community.

She is particularly interested in the role of nutrition in relation to cancer, and is currently undertaking her PhD investigating the role of polyphenols in colorectal cancer, including antioxidant and population studies. Previous research interests include the effects of nutritional supplements on human cancer cell lines, supported by Cancer Council Victoria and Victoria University scholarships, as well as sprouted grains and hospital-acquired malnutrition. 

Portfolios

Areas of expertise

  • Human Nutrition
  • Food science
  • Public health
  • Nutrition epidemiology

Contact details

+61 (3) 9919 5339
[email protected]

Publications

Refereed journal articles

Nelson, K.* Mathai, M. Ashton, J. Donkor, O., Vasiljevic, T. Mamilla, R. Stojanovska, L. (2015) Effects of malted and non-malted wheat on metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in overweight/obese adults: a randomised crossover pilot study, Food Chemistry, 194, 495-502.

Stojanovska, L., Law, C., Li, B., Chung, T., Nelson, K.*, Day, S., Apostolopoulos, V., Haines, C. (2015) Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women, Climacteric, 18 (1).

Nelson, K*,. Stojanovska, L., Vasiljevic, T., Mathai, M., (2013) Germinated grains: a superior whole-grain functional food?, Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 91, 429-441.

*Kris Vingrys was previously Kris Nelson.

Conference presentations

Nelson, K. (2012) Whole-grain and malted whole-grain wheat polyphenols, and corresponding biological effects on oxidative stress and inflammation in adults with overweight or obesity. Nutrition Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Wollongong

Nelson, K. (2012) The effects of whole-grain and malted wheat breakfast cereals on metabolic risk factors in adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised crossover trial. Victorian Obesity Consortium, Melbourne.

Nelson, K. (2012) The effects of whole-grain and malted wheat breakfast cereals on metabolic risk factors in adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised crossover trial. International Conference of Dietetics, Sydney.

Nelson, K. (2010). The effect of Maca (Lepidieum meyenii) on cytokines and blood glucose in postmenopausal Hong Kong Chinese women. The Fourth Scientific Meeting of the Asia Pacific Menopause Federation, Sydney.

*Kris Vingrys was previously Kris Nelson.

Professional memberships

Dietitians Association of Australia (Accredited Practising Dietitian – APD)

Nutrition Society of Australia (Registered Nutritionist – R. Nutr.)

Industry experience

  • Private Practice Dietitian – supporting clients with various diet-related goals, including healthy eating, chronic disease management, food intolerances/allergies and vegetarian diets

  • Workplace Consultant – Nutrition Australia

  • Research Officer – Victoria University (hospital acquired malnutrition project)

  • Sessional Lecturer – Victoria University, Melbourne and RMIT University, Nanjing, China

Appearances in the media

  • AVID Australia (2018), Back to school for VU’s First Year College teaching staff, AVID Australia.(Vingrys, K. quoted in article)
    https://avidaustralia.edu.au/2018/09/05/back-to-school-for-vus-first-yea...

  • Nelson, K*., Stojanovska, L., Mathai, M., Stepto, N. (2014) Health Check: tips on eating to recover after exercise, The Conversation.

  • Nelson, K*., Stojanovska, L., Mathai, M. (2013) Whole grains are better for you but they’re no panacea, The Conversation.

*Kris Vingrys was previously Kris Nelson.