An interview with Laura Andromalos MS, RD, CD, CDE – Healthcare Professionals Newsletter, February 2019

February 12, 2019

Practitioner spotlight - An interview with Laura Andromalos MS, RD, CD, CDE

Practitioners are frequently curious about if, and how, they can utilize Orgain products as part of a weight management program or for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. This month’s featured practitioner is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator that recommends Orgain to the patients she works with both in her clinic and through her Telehealth practice.

Laura Andromalos specializes in weight management with a focus on bariatric nutrition and has been working in the field for over ten years. Laura is a recognized expert in weight management, and she hosted an excellent webinar for Orgain just last month. We are so excited to share a little bit more about her and how she uses Orgain to advocate for better outcomes for her patients.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself personally and professionally so that our readers will be able to “get to know you”.

A: I live in Seattle and work as the Nutrition Program Manager at Northwest Weight & Wellness Center. I also have a part-time telehealth job as a bilingual Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) Coach for Cecelia Health. I love traveling and do quite a bit of it both professionally and personally. In July, my husband and I are traveling to Australia which will be our 6th continent. I have a unique hobby of flying trapeze which I’ve been doing for about 4 years.

Q: How long have you been an RD? Do you have any additional certifications/specializations/awards/publications you’d like to tell us about?

A: I’ve been an RD for nearly 10 years, and I’ve specialized in weight management and bariatric surgery for my entire career. I’m on the committee that developed the Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM) exam so I’ve been grandfathered into that credential, and I’ve been a CDE since 2016. I was awarded the Weight Management DPG 2018 Excellence in Emerging Practice Award. I’ve published in both professional and lay publications and am very proud to have spoken at conferences around the world.

Q: How did you initially find Orgain and what specifically prompted you to begin using it with/recommending it to you patients?

A: I originally found Orgain when I was working in bariatrics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. My colleagues and I had created a protein shake resource list with options that were high in protein and low in sugar. We liked that Orgain had a clean label with high quality ingredients and plant-based options.

Q: What is your personal favorite Orgain product and flavor and why?

A: My favorite is the Creamy Chocolate Fudge Clean Protein Grass Fed shake. While I’ve been vegetarian for half my life, I prefer the taste of whey protein shakes to plant-based shakes. I use this shake as a recovery drink after strength-training sessions.

Q: How are you currently using Orgain in your practice?

A: While I have moved since originally finding Orgain, I continue to recommend it to my bariatric patients at my new practice. Everybody has a Costco membership in the Seattle-area (except me! I’m not a true Seattlite…) so my patients love that they can find it there. Lately, I’ve had many patients with an interest in plant-based proteins. I appreciate that Orgain has both whey and plant-based options.

Q: Please share a personal story about your experience with Orgain and how it has been beneficial with one or more of your patients.

I have a post-op bariatric patient who told me she was sensitive to whey protein but continued to drink whey-based shakes because she didn’t know of good alternatives. She had tried a few plant-based shakes and didn’t like the taste and/or texture. I told her about Orgain and was able to provide her a sample. She loved it! It has become her daily breakfast and is helping her to achieve her health goals during her bariatric surgery journey.

Orgain in Practice

First Hospital Based Food Pantry Sharing Orgain with Patients in Need

University Medical Center New Orleans

Thanks to a generous grant, a one of a kind hospital-based therapeutic food pantry has opened at the Cancer Center at University Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The food pantry distributes food and nutritional supplements, including Orgain shakes, to patients in need.

Supplements are offered for patients who need additional protein and calories for weight maintenance or weight gain, and because the food pantry services patients and their families, it also provides Orgain Kids Nutrition Shakes for those who have children who are behind on their growth charts.

In addition, the dietitians provide education, weekly cooking demonstrations using foods from the pantry, and handouts based on each patient’s needs (shopping on a budget, making food go farther, recipes for plant-based meals, etc).

Take Action

Low Sugar for a Sweeter Heart

American Heart Health Month

February is American Heart Health Month, and there is a national initiative to encourage and motivate everyone to adopt heart healthy behaviors. Heart disease, while largely preventable and treatable through lifestyle modification, continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States. Because high blood sugar can damage blood vessels, individuals with poorly controlled diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.

Statistically speaking, men with a diabetes are two times more likely than individuals who do not have diabetes to suffer from heart disease, while women are four times more likely. Of course, there are other risk factors for these individuals including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight/obese.

A recent review published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC)  analyzed the most up-to-date evidence on whether and how blood sugar regulation influences cardiovascular health and disease prevention. Based on their analysis, the authors assert that regulating blood sugar should be a key treatment goal for patients with diabetes because reducing blood sugar levels has been linked to a number of health benefits including weight loss and reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Not surprisingly, improvements in blood sugar control have also been shown to reduce risk for heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death.

Despite these facts, however, making positive dietary and lifestyle changes can be challenging, especially with our fast-paced, busy lifestyles and the difficulty of navigating the complex food landscape. No wonder it’s increasingly difficult to make sound nutrition decisions. While we can’t be present for our patients at every food decision they make, offering convenient, high quality nutrition options (that happen to taste great) can help them get started. Orgain offers an array of nutritional shakes that contain 4 grams of sugar or less per serving, and even one with 0g of sugar – perfect for patients on the go who are hoping to make dietary changes that could positively impact their blood glucose levels.

To learn more, visit: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-month

Product Spotlight

20g Clean Protein Shake

Higher quality protein for a higher quality life.

20g Clean Protein Shake
  • bullet  20g Grass Fed Protein
  • bullet  100% New Zealand Sourced
  • bullet  3g Organic Fiber
  • bullet  4g Sugar
  • bullet  Gluten Free, Soy Free, Non-GMO
  • bullet  Doctor Developed
LEARN MORE


Events Calendar

ASPEN 2019 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference

ASPEN 2019 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference

March 23rd-26th
Phoenix, AZ

33rd Annual Pediatric Nutrition Conference: Establishing Competencies in Pediatric Nutrition

33rd Annual Pediatric Nutrition Conference: Establishing Competencies in Pediatric Nutrition

April 11th
Chicago, IL

California Academy Annual Conference Expo 2019

California Academy Annual Conference & Expo 2019

April 11th-13th
Riverside, CA

Orgain Ambassadors

Helping healthcare professionals provide the very best care to their patients and clients.

The Orgain shakes are very beneficial for our pulmonary rehab patients who often get fatigued during meal prep and need easy, balanced meal replacement options. 

For our cardiac patients, Orgain can be beneficial for those looking for a heart healthy breakfast on the go, those that typically are used to skipping meals or stopping in the drive thru, etc. 

The vegan shakes are great for those trying to live a more plant-based lifestyle after their cardiac event.

–Katy, Cardiac RD


Become an Orgain Ambassador


If you are a healthcare professional providing direct care to patients or clients and regularly recommend oral nutrition supplements, we’d like to invite you to become an Orgain Ambassador!

Request Ambassador Account

 

Have questions? Contact us at [email protected]

You May Also Like