Four Foods That Help Prevent Stroke

Stroke is one of the major public health problems in the world today and is increasingly caused by the foods eaten. It is the third leading cause of death worldwide after ischemic heart disease and cancer.

The current prevalence of stroke in Nigeria is 1.14 per 1000 while the 30-day case fatality rate is as high as 40% according to the World Health Organisation.

No one food can prevent stroke, but people with poor eating patterns are more prone to developing a multitude of chronic diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, [and] high cholesterol, which can increase the risk for having a stroke.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a risk factor for strokes, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help with weight and blood pressure management.

Dried Apricots

The adult body needs about 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day—the amount that is considered adequate enough to meet nutritional standards.

According to the American Heart Association, low potassium levels are because of high blood pressure or hypertension, which can lead to heart attack or stroke if not managed. Just one cup of dried apricots has about 1,511 milligrams of potassium, which is equivalent to 32 per cent of your daily needs.

Potatoes

Potatoes are common in Nigeria and one medium-sized potato with the skin intact contains just under 20 per cent of your daily needs of potassium. This is more than double the amount a medium-sized banana provides.

So, if you are starving and eat a large potato instead, that would get you one-third of your daily needs of the mineral. Add more potatoes into your weekly meal prep to maintain healthy potassium levels to steer clear of high blood pressure and, ultimately, a stroke.

Garlic

Garlic, a wonder plant, has many medicinal properties. It contains a molecule called ajoene, which prevents blood platelets from accumulating at one place and forming a blood clot, which causes a stroke.

For better effects, consume raw garlic. One of the major reasons behind cardiovascular problems is high cholesterol levels. And, garlic can help you decrease the level of bad cholesterol in the body and increase the levels of the good one.

The powerful smell is a horror story. To help, you can swallow it like a pill. The smell may surface when you belch or pee.

Tomatoes

Here is another reason to savour tomatoes: a recent study in Neurology finds they may help lower your risk of ischemic stroke—blockage of a brain artery that starves cells of oxygen and causes them to die. Lycopene seems to have some beneficial effects when it is in the form of fruits and vegetables.

Also, tomatoes have antioxidants. Antioxidants are believed to help protect against cell damage from molecules known as “free radicals” and “singlet molecular oxygen”.

Antioxidants are thought to work by reacting with an unstable molecule and bringing it under control.

Some have suggested that antioxidants may have a protective effect against stroke by reducing damage to blood vessels.

Increasing your intake of high-quality proteins by 20 grams (gm) a day may cut your stroke risk by as much as 26 per cent. Lentils, nuts, and seeds are excellent sources of protein and other nutrients and fibre.

For every additional 200 gm (about 7 ounces) of fruit you eat each day, you might decrease your stroke risk by 32 per cent. And your stroke risk could drop by 11 per cent for every additional 200 gm of vegetables you eat too.

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