Food for Thought

Food

for thought

By opting for a few small changes in diet, you can implement the smart way to eat in later life and increase your chances of good vision, says VisAbility.

As a child, were you told that carrots were good for your vision and would help you see in the dark? While there are many myths surrounding nutrition and diet - this one is true because carrots are full of betacarotene and Vitamin A.

Betacarotene, lutein and zeaxanthin belong to the carotenoid family. Eating plenty of carotenoid-rich veggies is a strong guarantee to protect you against vision problems later in life. Lutein (also known as the eye vitamin) and zeaxanthin are in the retina, the light sensitive tissue in the back of the eye, and are also found in carotenoid antioxidants - dark green and orange-yellow vegetables and fruits. Think spinach, broccoli, oranges, squash and of course carrots! These foods help fight damage and prevent deterioration of the eye lens, preventing conditions such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The food we eat has a direct impact on our well-being. A balanced diet will boost overall health to keep chronic diseases at bay as we age, such as diabetes. The risk for diabetes increases as we get older. 25% of Australian adults over the age of 60 have diabetes when your body can’t break down glucose into energy. It leads to an elevated blood glucose (sugar) level. Jenny, who is 59, blind, and lives with type2 diabetes, decided to see an accredited practising dietitian (APD) when she could not seem to get her blood sugars down. Her doctor had recommended commencing insulin therapy, but Jenny was determined to overhaul her diet and lifestyle habits to improve her condition. As a client of the NDIS provider VisAbility, Jenny reached out for support from Accredited Practising Dietitian, Rachel Boen, to meet new health goals. “Jenny was determined and willing to embrace change. Since she first started accessing Dietetics ten months ago, she feels healthier and is better managing her diabetes,” explains Rachel. Jenny knew the key to success was to reset her mindset about food.

“Through Rachel’s guidance, I started to make healthier choices and rethink my relationship with food.”

Rachel’s advice included:

• Choosing low GI carbohydrates. GI is the glycemic index that measures and ranks various foods by how much they cause blood sugar levels to rise. • Discussing the importance of portion control. • Limiting the intake of discretionary foods.

Discretionary foods do not necessarily provide nutrients and are high in saturated fats, sugars and salt. • Offering suggestions to make easy, quick and healthy meals based on Jenny’s needs.

Since accessing a dietitian, Jenny has managed to lose weight and, as a result, no longer needs insulin. She is now better informed and mindful of her diet and enjoys learning about different foods and how they impact her blood sugars. Jenny is pleased with the progress she’s making. To improve her physical well-being, she’s also keeping active and receiving support from an accredited exercise physiologist at the VisAbility Gym. Remember, food should be enjoyed, strike the right balance with your choices and eat any unhealthy foods in moderation. VisAbility has a range of therapy specialists and services, including Dietetics and Exercise Physiology. For more than 100 years, VisAbility has empowered people living in WA with vision loss to believe they can do anything, be anything and achieve what they want in life.

KEEPING FIT AND HEALTHY Adjustments to your diet can greatly improve your general fitness and wellbeing.

Head over to www.visability.com.au/oak to find out more.