Accidente Cerebrovascular

Nutrition

While lifestyle plays an important role in stroke prevention, perhaps the most important part of stroke prevention is that of proper nutrition. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 80% of all strokes can be prevented by nutrition and lifestyle changes [1]. This means that a balanced diet can help immensely. It is important to recognize that people who have immigrated to the United States from Latin America still might want to eat similarly to how they did in their home country.

Here are some general tips that can be followed to lower your risk of stroke:

  • If you suffer from hypertension (and even if you do not), limit your sodium intake by having fewer processed foods and less salt on your food.

  • Try not to eat foods that are filled with grease or fat or sodim (salt).

This includes foods that are high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Even though there is still debate about whether or not dietary cholesterol is directly related to cholesterol levels in the body, it is much safer to maintain a diet with foods that are low in cholesterol.

  • Try to substitute more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

This will be difficult at first, but over a period of a few months, it will become more manageable and should improve your overall mood and health.

Aside from these general tips, there are very good resources found in English about how to receive proper nutrition through a healthy diet. Here are some links to the ones that are most informative and engaging:

Overall, these are suggestions that, along with changes in lifestyle, can help reduce the risk of having a stroke. However, everyone has different calorie requirements so please make sure to check in with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet.

Nutrition after Stroke

Depending on what physical effects still remain after the stroke, it may be difficult to consistently maintain a proper diet. It may become difficult to shop regularly [2]

References

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/healthy_living.htm

[2] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4657-stroke-prevention–treatment-diet–nutrition