There is a steadily growing body of evidence which shows that certain vitamins and nutrients can help slow down the progression of age- related macular degeneration. A good healthy diet full of fresh fruit and vegetables is an important part of keeping healthy.
Professor Ian Greirson with the support of the Macular Disease Society has published a book called Vegetables for Vision. This is a book of recipes for vegetables high in the kinds of nutrients thought to help with age-related macular degeneration. Professor Grierson, the head of Ophthalmology at Liverpool University, describes himself as 'a slightly overweight scientist with an interest in AMD who enjoys cooking for relaxation'. The book hopes to provide new recipes for well-known vegetables. Happily the Macular Disease Society and Professor Grierson have allowed us to share this excerpt with you, one of the recipes from the book.
Pepper and tomato stew
Sweet peppers mix brilliantly with tomatoes and both are great eye and general health foods. Red peppers are a sound source of lutein and beta carotenes in general. They are rich also in the antioxidant vitamins C and E. Tomatoes have lots of vitamin C and, although they are poor in lutein, they have plenty of beta carotene.
The Griersons often holiday in the Costa Blanca which is where I first met this colourful red stew that doesn't take long to cook. The Costa Blanca, like many parts of the Spanish coastline, is full of Brits and there is some interesting mixing of tastes. In one British restaurant I know in Alicante they serve the stew with lovely 'imported' Lincolnshire sausages.
Serves four people as a main dish or six as a side dish.
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30ml (2 tbsp) virgin olive oil
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1 onion
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3 large red peppers
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1 small green pepper
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4 plum tomatoes
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1 tsp sugar.
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Heat the oil in a decent sized pan.
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Slice the onion and cook for 1 minute.
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Core and chop the peppers into strips and cook for five minutes.
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Remove the tomato skins by placing in boiling water and then peeling.
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Chop the flesh roughly and add to the stew with the sugar. Simmer for six minutes or a little longer until tender.
I think the pepper and tomato stew is perfect on its own served in a bowl with thick bread but the sausage idea is sound - ideal with good pork sausages like Cumberland.
I prefer red wine with a dish that is dominated by peppers and would choose a Californian Merlot.
More information
Two cookbooks, 'Vegetables for Vision' and 'Fruit for Vision', by prominent ophthalmologist Professor Ian Grierson from Liverpool University, can be purchased from the Macular Disease Society. Telephone 01264 350 551. It's full of vegetable recipes for all seasons of the year.
Our information on nutrition and the eye offers more details on the vitamins and nutrients that have been found to have an impact on eye conditions.
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