High in disease-fighting phytochemicals and antioxidants, sweet potatoes are healthy for stroke survivors with diabetes. Your loved one should be able to chew and swallow sweet potatoes with ease, and sweet potatoes also go well with lean sources of protein such as chicken breast and turkey.
Eggs are a beneficial source of protein for stroke patients. Eggs are soft and can be cooked in many ways, allowing them to be easily eaten by those who have difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia) after stroke.
Limit foods high in saturated fat such as biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, processed meats, commercial burgers, pizza, fried foods, potato chips, crisps and other savoury snacks. Limit foods which contain mostly saturated fats such as butter, cream, cooking margarine, coconut oil and palm oil.
Avocados
The soluble fiber found in avocados regulates the body's use of sugars and lowers the blood cholesterol levels of senior stroke survivors. Avocados contain fiber, monounsaturated fat, minerals, and vitamins that keep the heart healthy.
Physical therapy uses exercises to help you relearn movement and coordination skills you may have lost because of the stroke. Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily activities, such as eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, reading, and writing.
The initial recovery following stroke is most likely due to decreased swelling of brain tissue, removal of toxins from the brain, and improvement in the circulation of blood in the brain. Cells damaged, but not beyond repair, will begin to heal and function more normally.
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.
Soft Foods That Are Easy for Stroke Patients to Eat:
Yogurt: Yogurt is one of the best foods for stroke patients because it is very easy to eat and also a great source of protein and some yogurts contain probiotics which aid in digestive health.
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. They are also a source of potassium, which can further help to lower blood pressure, Bayat explains.
This vegetable provides seniors with fiber, calcium, vitamins, and other minerals they need to manage diabetes and recover from a stroke. Broccoli can lower insulin levels and protect cells against free radicals. Your loved one should avoid eating broccoli sold in steam bags that need to be heated up before serving.
Cheese, in particular, appears to decrease the risk of stroke; Calcium from dairy foods has been associated with a 31% reduction in stroke risk.
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.
Whole grains such as oatmeal deliver soluble fiber to seniors and reduce the risk of recurrent strokes. Oatmeal is a brain-boosting whole grain that can also enhance cognition in seniors and restore many of the abilities they lost due to their strokes.
Because your loved one may feel weak and tired after a stroke, lean sources of protein such as chicken breast should be consumed. Low in fat, chicken breast also contains vitamin B-6, magnesium, and potassium, all of which may reduce the risk for another cerebrovascular event.
Look for a high-fiber, low-sugar variety which is multi-grained or whole wheat. Sprouted wheat, flax seed and low carbohydrate bread varieties are all excellent choices.
The study found that people with the highest amounts of lycopene in their blood were 55 percent less likely to have a stroke than people with the lowest amounts of lycopene in their blood.
Promote dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt which are high in calcium and have protein. Avoid low-calorie, low-fat and low-sugar foods as these are “empty calories”.
Lean Protein
Avoiding pork and red meat can help your loved one remain healthy while recovering from a stroke. Lean meats such as chicken, salmon, and low-mercury varieties of fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in saturated fats, which limit cholesterol levels.
After surveying 101,000 participants in China, scientists found drinking green tea was linked with approximately 25 percent lower risk of living with heart disease or after a stroke, the chance of dying from heart disease and stroke, and general death.
Activities like water aerobics, Zumba, spin, yoga and pilates all offer something different. You can choose something energetic that gets your heart working or you can focus on flexibility and strength. Some groups use music and some have a social side.
Quality sleep has many benefits, especially for stroke survivors. Getting a good night's sleep supports neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to restructure and create new neural connections in healthy parts of the brain, allowing stroke survivors to re-learn movements and functions.
Post-Stroke Fatigue: Fatigue following stroke is a multidimensional motor-perceptive, emotional and cognitive experience characterized by a feeling of early exhaustion with weariness, lack of energy and aversion to effort that develops during physical or mental activity and is usually not ameliorated by rest.