Foods That Can Prevent Stroke

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Having a stroke can change you or a loved ones life dramatically. They typically happen out of the blue and the after effects can create anxiety and depression. Certain risk factors of a stroke are out of our control such as gender, age,
ethnicity, and family history. Stroke is either caused by blood clots or bleeding in the brain. Symptoms may include difficulty speaking, weakness or numbness in the legs, arms, or face, confusion, and trouble seeing. According to the Population Health Research Institute as posted on Contemporary Clinic, risk factors for stroke include:

1. Excessive alcohol consumption

2. High blood pressure

3. Poor diet

4. Smoking

5. Physical inactivity

6. Obesity

7. Lipids

8. Heart disease

9. Diabetes

10. Stress

There are ways you can prevent yourself from a stroke regardless of your family history or age. Researchers believe that 80% of strokes can be prevented. This article addresses how nutrition plays a major role in preventing a stroke. Medical experts believe that following a whole food, plant-based diet can prevent strokes. Click HERE for more about the plant-based diet and recipes. According to the Food Revolution Network, for every 7 grams of fiber consumed, you'll see a 7% drop in the chance of a stroke for first-timers. Plant-based diets are high in fiber and packed with antioxidants. Foods rich in antioxidants help reduce inflammation, improve blood flow to the arteries, and prevent plaque buildup.

Nuts

One study showed that adding only one ounce of nuts including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts to your diet each day cut the risk of stroke in half.

Leafy Greens

We all know a healthy diet isn't healthy unless it includes vegetables. Leafy greens protect our bodies against chronic diseases and reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke by 20%.

Citrus Fruits

I wrote a recent article discussing the many benefits including cardiovascular that citrus fruits provide HERE. The flavonoids found in citrus fruits such as lemons and limes can lower the risk of stroke by 20% over a 15-year period.

Whole Grains

Refined grains used to make rice and white bread leave you with food with the vital nutrients stripped out. Whole grains are high in vitamin B, thiamin, folate, magnesium, iron, and fiber which are all associated with promoting heart health and reducing your risk of stroke.

Garlic

Garlic plays a huge factor in reducing stroke risk by a whopping 50%. It has a long history of use in medicinal purposes and contains selenium, zinc, and magnesium which help assist nerve and brain health.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain a large amount of lycopene that is known to reduce the risk of stroke. According to WebMD, men who had the highest amount of lycopene in their blood were 55% less likely to have a stroke compared to those with small amounts of lycopene in their blood.

Foods to Avoid

Regular consumption of the following foods can increase your risk of a stroke by 58%. It's important to avoid the following foods, especially, if you have existing health issues:

* Salty foods
* Dairy
* Foods high in cholesterol

Meat

Research on meat found that there is a 10% increase risk of stroke associated with every 3.5 ounce portion. Toxic pollutants build up in animal fats increasing your odds of having a stroke by up to 9 times. If you can't let go of the occasional steak, opt for grass-fed beef only.

Diet Soda

At the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference, facts were presented that those who drank one diet soda per day increased their risk of stroke by 48%.