Eating A Plant Based Whole Food Diet

Fascinating findings. A woman who enjoys a plant based whole food diet, has a lower stroke risk according to a new study. Even if she has a history of heart disease or stroke, this way of eating… lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains… can reduce her chances of suffering with a stroke.

Strokes happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, or reduced, depriving this vital organ of both oxygen and blood… within minutes the brain cells start to die. Considered a medical emergency, doctors will tell you that prompt treatment is vital; acting at once can minimize the damage to your brain and any complications you might deal with later on.

The good news is that strokes can be prevented, and many fewer people die of them today than was the case even 15 years ago. Better control of the risk factors (high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol) is one reason for the decline.

For the current work on stroke, the team examined a group of just over 31,000 women who were heart disease free and 5,680 who had previous heart problems, both groups ranging in age from 49 to 83 years old.

Researchers measured the amounts of foods rich in antioxidants that the subjects’ ate and drank using a food frequency questionnaire. Over 11 years later, there had been over 1,300 strokes among the women who didn’t have heart disease; 1,007 strokes among those who did have earlier histories of heart disease and stroke.

The level of antioxidants consumed in the diet appears to impact stroke risk. Subjects who didn’t have a heart disease history who ate lots of antioxidants had a 17% less chance of suffering any sort of stroke in comparison to those who consumed the least amount of these beneficial nutrients. These results remained the same even after the team accounted for things that could impact stroke risk – like a lack of exercise, being a smoker and other lifestyle choices.

For those who had a history of either heart disease or stroke, the numbers were even more startling – those who consumed the highest amounts of foods rich in antioxidants had a 45% drop in risk of a hemorrhagic stroke (where bleeding occurs in the brain] than those who ate a diet with the least levels of antioxidants.

We know that antioxidants are thought to sop up free radicals in our bodies that can cause heart disease, stroke as well as other serious diseases. Other sources besides fruits, veggies and whole grains include tea and chocolate. Making sure you get these beneficial antioxidants from the foods you eat is an important take-away message from the research.

Most specialists will tell patients to eat more fruits, veggies, omega-3 fatty acids, nuts – and fewer saturated fats.

While the study shows promising benefits to a plant based whole food diet, the work does need to be repeated in men and other female populations. In …

Stroke Awareness – What You Need To Know

This article provides a brief description of a stroke and related information that could be of service to a sufferer or their family and friends. For more detailed information please contact your physician or local support group.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a loss of brain function due to a decrease in blood flow to part of the brain caused by a blockage or a leakage. A stroke is classed as medical emergency as it can cause brain damage or death. Strokes are the primary cause of disability in the United States and Europe and the second most common cause of death worldwide.

What causes a stroke?

There are several risk factors for a stroke, these include advanced age, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and cigarette smoking. If a person has suffered a previous stroke or a Transient ischaemic attack they have a higher chance of having a stroke in the future. A Transient Ischaemic attack also known as a mini stroke, has similar symptoms but the effect usually lasts less than 24 hours. If a person has a stroke risk factor, early detection and management of this factor can reduce the risk of a stroke.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke symptoms all come on suddenly and can include;

• Dizziness, loss of balance and movement control

• Difficulty speaking or understanding words

• Blurred or loss of vision in one or both eyes

• Weakness or numbness in the face, arms or legs, especially if it affects one side of the body.

The FAST test is the quick and easy check to be used if a stroke is suspected. It is as follows;

• Face – is the smile drooping on one side

• Arms – raise both arms up, is one arm weak?

• Speech – is the speech difficult to understand, slurred, slow or jumbled?

• Time – if you suspect a stroke, act fast and call emergency services or hospital

What are the treatments available to a stroke victim?

Strokes fall into two categories, ischemic and hemorrhagic. An interruption of the blood supply causes an ischemic stroke, while abnormal vascular structure or a rupture of a blood vessel results in a hemorrhagic stroke. When a person suffers a stroke they should be admitted to a specialist stroke unit with the treatment they are prescribed dependent on the type of stroke that they have suffered.

The immediate treatment for ischemic stroke includes drugs and or surgery to break up any blood clots present in the patient and to make blood less likely to clot. In contrast the drugs prescribed to treat a hemorrhagic stroke aim to increase clotting and stop bleeding and surgery may be required to remove blood from the brain that can cause swelling in the brain and result in brain damage.

A stroke can be fatal and if a person recovers from one, they may suffer physical and …