TV Chef Lawrence Keogh Launches Tasty Cookbook For World Kidney Day

On Thursday 12th March more than 100 countries will celebrate World Kidney Day, a global health awareness campaign that focuses on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

In celebration of World Kidney Day, renowned TV chef Lawrence Keogh, from BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen and head chef at Roast restaurant in London’s Borough Market will launch the Rediscovering Food & Flavours Cookbook.

Kidney disease affects people’s lives in number of ways, one of these being the restrictions on food that can be eaten, due to the content of phosphate, sodium and potassium. With so much pleasure in life taken out of eating, whether this is at the local pub, posh city restaurant or in the comfort of your cosy home, it’s enjoyed by all and should be a relaxing and indulgent time. Many people with kidney disease are unable to enjoy food the way many of us do.

Lawrence fully understands the diet restrictions that kidney disease can place on you as he explains: “Eight years ago I had a kidney transplant at the age of just 35 and I am very passionate about raising awareness of kidney disease. I wanted to create a cookbook of recipes that are not only easy to cook but that entice people into cooking well balanced and tasty meals.“The cookbook is based on foods that people affected with kidney disease can eat, I’ve worked closely with Diana to design exciting yet achievable recipes that meet dietary guidelines. I’ve hopefully dispelled the myths that low phosphate diets are dull and unimaginative. As someone who has suffered from a kidney disorder I am delighted to be working on this project and hope it will, in a very small way help to improve the quality of life for many people.”

The Lawrence Keogh cookbook provides a mouth-watering selection of recipes such as Beef and Two Samosas with Mango Chutney, Pea and Ham Fritta and Quick Stem Ginger Ice Cream.

Lawrence Keogh’s , Rediscovering Food & Flavours Cookbook has been developed with speciality biopharmaceutical company Shire and is part of a wider kidney care programme which has been developed by Shire.

Ian Sampson from Shire comments: “This is the latest initiative in a series of programmes designed to assist Renal Dieticians, renal diseases sufferers and their carers. We want to improve the quality of life for those on low phosphate diets and we’re delighted that Lawrence has agreed to fully support this initiative. We’re confident the book will be of real value to people with kidney disease and their carers.”