Journalism

Nell worked as a food and travel journalist for ten years in Hong Kong, where she ate and wrote for a wide range of local and international publications; The South China Morning Post, Asian Home Gourmet, Elle Decoration, Cathay Pacific inflight magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, Decanter and The London Evening Standard.

Now back in Scotland Nell writes for UK publications such as the Scotsman, Evening News, Health and Organic Living and OK! She also writes Fringe arts reviews for the Guardian and the Evening News.

Please click on the links below for a selection of recent cuttings

Rock On in the Rockies by Nell Nelson published in OK!
Healthy Hols by Nell Nelson published in Healthy and Organic Living
Guardian Review of a production of Macbeth

Best Column

Question

I have developed adult asthma and wondered if there any foods that can make it worse or better?

Answer

Some people develop asthma as adults; if you develop it later, it is usually because of external influences rather than genetic or allergies such as house mites, animal hair or pollen. Triggers can be flu or viral infections, anxiety, depression and some medicines. Food additives could be a cause- such as tartrazine and sulphites – often wine and dried fruit have been finished with sulphur dioxide, so make sure you read the small print on food labels. The compounds that contribute to allergy and inflammatory reactions come from arachidonic acid which is a fatty acid found in animal products – so try and cut back on cheese, butter, red meat, dairy and eat more fish, lean meat, olive oil. In experimental studies onions, garlic and berries have anti asthmatic effects, especially onions. Vitamin C inhibits bronchial constriction and also help fatty acid metabolism so eat more peppers, berries, citrus fruits, kiwis and green vegetables.

Q

I suffer from SAD in winter and would like to know if there is anything I can do in summer to help ward it off come winter?

A

Yes, there is lots you can do now, so you are ready when the clocks go back! SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) has been linked to the hormone melatonin which the body produces in darkness; it tends to make people more drowsy and seek high fat/sugar foods to try and cheer themselves up. So get in the habit now of balancing blood sugar and eating complex carbs such as wholegrains and cutting back on processed foods. Vitamin D is a key nutrient which can help SAD sufferers – the body makes vitamin D when the sun’s ultraviolet B rays touch the skin, so you are less likely to suffer from SAD in the summer. But you also get vitamin D from foods such as prawns, milk, cod and eggs, so start experimenting with recipes now, so you are ready for those shorter days – a delicious luxury fish pie springs to mind; make a white sauce and add flaked cod, prawns and chopped boiled egg and top with fluffy mashed potato or kedgeree with fish, prawns, brown rice, hard boiled eggs and lots of parsley....I’m already looking forward to cosy nights by the fire!