EAT TO BEAT ILLNESS

TODAY: IMPROVE YOUR EYESIGHT

MosT of us don’t pay much attention to looking after our eyes until something goes wrong — which is tragic given what an irreplaceable asset they are.

The royal national Institute of Blind People (rnIB) predicts that the numbers of Britons living with sight loss will increase by 30 per cent by 2030 — yet few of us regularly bother with eye tests.

The most common cause of blindness in the UK is macular degeneration — a condition mostly encountered in people over 50 and characterised by blind spots in the centre of their vision.

You might assume that this is either due to your genes or a natural part of the ageing process so cannot be helped. But exciting recent research has shown this is not the case.

scientists now know that certain micronutrients, found in common fruit and vegetables, can significantly slow the progression of this disease. POWER ON OUR PLATES so, onCE again, we can see how the food we put on our plates is as powerful as pills in protecting us against many diseases or in slowing the progression of conditions already diagnosed.

I am a nHs doctor trained in conventional medicine and with a specialism in general practice. It’s my job to present evidence-based information as clearly as possible to my patients.

I am also living proof of the power of diet over drugs, having used a series of lifestyle changes to cure my own irregular, fast heartbeat eight years ago instead of opting straight away for the surgery recommended by cardiologists.

This gave me a passion for explaining the importance of food as medicine to colleagues and patients alike. In the process I also learned to love cooking!

Today, based on my new book Eat To Beat Illness, we’ll examine how crucial nutrition and healthy living habits are to our precious eyesight.

and I’ll also share some more exciting and mouthwatering recipes from around the world — so you can see for yourself how enjoyable eating for health can be.