Eating this fruit can reduce the brain damage seniors experience after a stroke. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that protect brain cells. Reducing cell loss can immediately enhance cognition and mobility skills, making daily life easier for seniors and family caregivers.
Foods high in fiber, potassium, or magnesium
Apples (and pears) also are rich in an antioxidant called quercetin, which can help prevent blood clots, relax arteries, and improve blood flow.
Only whole grains. High intake of vegetables, fruit and legumes. Avoid deep-fried foods and hydrogenated oils (trans fats). Avoid sugar and refined grains, and limit potatoes.
Keep your blood pressure controlled through lifestyle changes and/or medications. Don't smoke or stop smoking. Take steps to manage your cholesterol. Limit your alcohol consumption.
Foods high in potassium, such as sweet and white potatoes, bananas, tomatoes, prunes, melon and soybeans, can help you maintain a healthy blood pressure — the leading risk factor of stroke. Magnesium-rich foods, such as spinach, are also linked to a lower risk of stroke.
Supplementation with B vitamins (vitamin B9(folic acid), vitamin B12 and vitamin B6) lowers blood total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations by about 25% and reduces the relative risk of stroke overall by about 10% (risk ratio (RR) 0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99) compared with placebo.
For the past 20 years, nutrition researchers have found that strawberries may reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke in women (1,2) reduce total and LDL (the bad) cholesterol (3,4,5) and improve blood pressure.
Researchers at the Heart Research Institute (HRI) have discovered Brussels sprouts and broccoli can help dissolve blood clots and improve the performance of clot-busting drugs, which could help treat a stroke.
Yogurt gives you probiotics, which boost the gut-brain axis – which is how your brain and gut communicate. Boosting your gut health will in turn improve your brain health, the basis of preventing stroke.
The research
They found that having one egg a day, compared to two eggs or less per week was linked to a 12 per cent reduced risk of stroke. The reductions in risk were linked to the two most common types of stroke (ischaemic and haemorrhagic) as well as for fatal stroke.
Researchers have found that intake of blueberries “acutely improves vascular [arterial] function…in an intake-dependent manner.” Less than a cup is beneficial, but one to two cups seem better with no benefit to eating more than that in a single meal.
Berries Improve the Memory.
A study conducted with young and old adult participants who ate blueberries, showed an increase of blood flow to key areas of the brain, improvements in memory and attention to required tasks.
Blueberries are high in fiber, which is essential for digestive health. However, consuming too many can lead to digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea. This is because the fiber in blueberries is not easily digestible, and excessive consumption can overload the digestive system.
Magnesium for Stroke Treatment and Prevention
On one hand, low magnesium levels have been linked to higher mortality rates in patients after a new ischemic stroke. Unfortunately, this means that patients who are low in magnesium are more likely to die after the onset of an ischemic stroke.
A vitamin B12 deficiency can increase homocysteine levels, which are a well-established risk factor for ischemic stroke.
There is some evidence that vitamin D supplementation could lower stroke risk and improve recovery, though outcomes can also be negligible or negative. Although results are mixed and the limitations of vitamin D supplementation merit some caution, vitamin D overall plays a significant role in stroke health.
Since carrots are rich in vitamin A, it is good for improving eyesight and preventing conditions like night blindness from developing as we age. Stroke: Eating a carrot every day reduces the risk of stroke by 68%.
Drink a lot of water: You should drink at least five glasses of water per day, and this will reduce your risk of stroke by 53%, according to a recent study by Loma Linda University.
To recap, your best choices are hydrating beverages that contain minimal calories, sugar or salt. Reach for water, coffee or tea most often. And keep a water bottle handy – the visual cue reminds you to keep sipping.
A study published in the journal Evidence Based Complement Alternative Medicine demonstrated how ginger (Zingiber officinale) mitigates brain damage and improves memory impairment in focal cerebral ischemic rat.