Diets to Defy Dementia Cooking Program

COTA WA is currently inviting registrations for their Diets to Defy Dementia Cooking Programs, which are being run in conjunction with Edith Cowan University, Nutrition Australia WA Division and the Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and funded by the Australian Government.

Diet is considered an important environmental factor involved in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Fruit and vegetables contain many compounds known as phytochemicals, in addition to traditional nutrients, that can elicit biologic responses that may improve brain health and vascular function. Recent studies have investigated the role of different types food components including omega 3 in fish, catechins in tea and curcumin in the spice turmeric in relation to neurological health and function. Neurological health benefits from these food components seem promising.

The practical four week cooking program provide participants with the cooking skills and food knowledge to make relevant behaviour change. Meals are prepared using ingredients which have been shown to reduce disease risk (which will be enjoyed for lunch). The sessions will also cover a range of nutrition topics, including reading food labels, hygiene and shopping for 1 or 2 people, and participants are given a folder containing recipes and other nutrition and dementia information to take home with them.

The next round of cooking programs commence the week of the 22 November. They are being held on Wednesdays or Fridays at Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, and cost $20 for 4 weeks (i.e.- $5 per session).

For those who are unable to commit to the 4 week cooking program they will also holding a FREE one hour information session where the latest biomedical research on the role of nutrition will be translated into practical applications for everyday life will be discussed. This session is being held at 10am, Wednesday 1st December 2010 at the Alexander Library.

For further details of the cooking program or information session please contact COTA WA on 9321 2133

Registration form for the cooking classes can be found here
Flyer for the information session can be found here