Stroke: The ‘stroke-prevention diet’ which ‘yields numerous benefits’ – best foods

Miriam tells Loose Women coming out could be linked to mother's stroke

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The NHS explains: “An unhealthy diet can increase your chances of having a stroke because it may lead to an increase in your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.” If you are at an increased risk you may be able to lessen the risk by healthy eating, and it is also a good idea to recognise the signs. There are around 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK, and your symptoms will depend on the part of your brain affected and the extent of the damage.

Indeed, the Dignity Health site says that there are several foods to incorporate into a “stroke-prevention” diet.

It says: “While no foolproof methods exist to avoid getting a stroke, you can still significantly reduce your risk by consuming a strict stroke-prevention diet.

“Eating healthful foods yields numerous benefits, and sticking to the following guidelines will not only lower your risk factors for a stroke, but will also improve your overall health.”

It notes that The American Stroke Association (ASA) offers suggestions on what to eat to encourage a stroke-free lifestyle.

It says according to the ASA, there are three main risk factors for stroke you can avoid through a healthy diet, which are high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight.

Dignity Health notes: “Your body needs certain nutrients to perform at its highest capacity.

“This means eating a variety of good-for-you foods from all food groups, each of which offers its own types of nutrients.”

You should aim to include a variety of vegetables and fruits, lean meats with no skin or added saturated and trans fat, low-sodium foods and unprocessed foods.

Research suggests that there are a number of healthy lifestyle choices that can help reduce your risk. For example, research published in the BMJ says that “lifestyle is much more important than most physicians suppose”.

It notes that in the US Health Professionals study and the Nurses’ Health Study, poor lifestyle choices accounted for more than half of strokes.

It reads: “Participants who achieved all five healthy lifestyle choices—not smoking, moderate intake of alcohol, a body mass index <25, daily exercise for 30 min and a healthy diet score in the top 40 percent, had an 80 percent reduction of stroke compared with participants who achieved none.”

It adds that in a study in Swedish women, all five choices reduced the risk of stroke by 60 percent.

The NHS says that the main stroke symptoms include changes to the face.

Your face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.

Signs may also occur on the arms – “the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm”, says the NHS.

Their speech may be slurred or garbled, “or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake”.

It says that they may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them.

You should call 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.

The NHS states: “As different parts of your brain control different parts of your body, your symptoms will depend on the part of your brain affected and the extent of the damage.”

The health body adds: “If you have been diagnosed with a condition known to increase your risk of stroke, ensuring the condition is well controlled is also important for helping prevent strokes.”

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