Stroke and Nutrition

Importance of Eating Healthy

The following healthy food habits can help you reduce your risk for stroke:

• Eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits.
• Choose whole-grain, high-fiber foods.
• Eat fish at least twice a week.
• Limit cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat. Avoiding partially hydrogenated oils will reduce trans fats.
• Choose lean meats and poultry, and prepare them without using saturated or trans fats.
• Select fat-free, 1-percent, or low-fat dairy products.
• Cut back on drinks and foods with added sugars.
• Choose and prepare foods with a little salt (sodium).
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Limit yourself to one drink per day, if you are a woman or two drinks, if you’re a man.

Some stroke survivors may experience a loss of appetite. For others, eating may become difficult due to swallowing problems. If you have trouble swallowing, talk to your speech therapist or doctor about different foods you can eat. If you have weakness in your arms or hands, you might try adaptive eating utensils. Some types of flatware have thicker handles that are easier to hold, and “rocker knives” make it possible to cut food using one hand.