Recipes to Save Sight
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To highlight the importance of good nutrition during 2015 Macular Degeneration Awareness Week, Patron Ita Buttrose is sharing some of her recipes to launch the Foundation’s ‘Macula Menu’, an online recipe collection of healthy, eye friendly recipes.
“I’m passionate about making sure all Australians know that to a significant degree, they can eat away their risk of developing macular degeneration,” said Foundation Patron Ita Buttrose.
Below are a selection of recipes from Eating for Eye Health – The Macular Degeneration Cookbook, written by the Foundation’s Patron, Ita Buttrose AO OBE and Chef Vanessa Jones. You can order the cookbook here or call the Foundation on 1800 111 709.
Submit your recipe
You’re invited to share your favourite healthy, eye friendly recipe on ‘Macula Menu’.
Eye friendly recipes are based on a healthy, well balanced diet and include ingredients such as green leafy vegetables and fish. A healthy, well balanced diet includes a variety of nutritious ingredients from any of the five food groups:
- Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds
- Vegetables, legumes and beans
- Fruit
- Grain (cereal) foods, which are wholegrain and or high fibre varieties which are low GI
- Milk, yoghurt and cheese
About nutrition and macular degeneration
Nutrition plays an important role in the health of the eye, particularly in the macula. The macula is the central part of the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye and it processes central visual images and is responsible for a person’s ability to read, recognise faces, drive and see colours clearly.
There is now very consistent evidence that people who maintain a balanced, healthy diet, including fish two to three times a week, leafy greens and other fruit and vegetables daily, and low GI carbohydrates, have a significantly lower risk of developing macular degeneration.
There is also good evidence that the right diet can help to slow progression of the disease, even after it has become established. Of course, the greatest benefit occurs the earlier that the dietary changes can be made. This means getting an early diagnosis, which can only occur if people have regular eye tests, including a macula check.
For a copy of the Foundation’s fact sheet ‘Nutrition and Supplements for Macular Degeneration’ call 1800 111 709 or click here.
25 May 2015