May 03, 2017 · Written by Foodtolive Team
Top 5 Best Foods for Stroke Recovery for Vegans
It seems that today everyone should know what the best foods for stroke recovery are as the number of people suffering from this condition has increased by almost 50% in the last decade. The good news is that the stroke mortality rate has gone down, and a healthy diet definitely is an important contributing factor to this.
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Vegans have a lower risk of stroke by default and a plant-based diet is a good choice for recovering patients. However, there are some specific foods that can help restore your health more efficiently.
5 Best Foods for Stroke Recovery on a Vegan Diet
1.Garlic
Garlic is renowned for its antimicrobial properties and is considered one of the foods that strengthen the immune system. Fewer people realize that this food is also very good for stroke prevention. Some of the active elements in garlic reduce the plaque in the arteries, which naturally decreases the risk of stroke. This food also has some blood thinning properties. On one hand, this means that eating it regularly can help lower blood pressure a little. On the other, you shouldn’t consume garlic if you are taking any anticoagulants.
2.Bell peppers
Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and are easier for the stomach of a person recovering after stroke than citrus fruits. This element is an extremely potent antioxidant and it helps your arteries heal. Other vitamin C rich foods include kiwi fruits, pineapples, broccoli, and leafy greens.
Brazil nuts are one of the best foods for stroke recovery not only for vegans. They are exceptionally rich in selenium, an element necessary to help your brain and arteries heal naturally. It also has a very strong positive influence on the immune system and can reduce the rate of plaque formation in the blood vessels. You can roast Brazil nuts, eat them raw, or add to smoothies and salads. About 3 nuts a day would be enough to meet the daily requirement of selenium.
4.Walnuts
Walnuts are one of the best plant sources of omega 3 fatty acids. These fats are essential for proper brain function. Thus, they can speed up the process of post-stroke recovery. They also help reduce inflammation, which lowers the risk of another attack.
5.Sesame seeds
Benefits of sesame seeds are so numerous, they can class as a superfood. For stroke recovery patients, they are valuable due to their high content of omega 3 fats as well as ability to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol. Eating sesame seeds regularly also helps normalize blood pressure.
Stroke Recovery Diet: General Tips
The diet of patients recovering from a stroke should contain a lot of fiber, so fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains must be the main food groups in it. You also need to reduce the fats and exclude all processed foods as well as products with a high content of sugar.
It’s imperative to keep the patient hydrated, drinking no less than 8 glasses of water per day. For a post-stroke diet, plain water is the best option, but you can also drink some freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. Avoid drinks with caffeine and limit your intake of herbal teas.