Anticoagulant-Rich Diet For Stroke Patients
Eating food with anticoagulant properties is a good way to supplement your medication for stroke patients. Anticoagulants are agents or substances used to prevent or reduce the formation of or ability of blood to clot.
Anticoagulant medicines, like Warfarin and Aspirin, are usually taken to prevent unnecessary blood clotting in the body. Natural anticoagulants help in thinning blood while providing a nutritious way of avoiding stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
Fruits are good sources of anticoagulants. Nutritionists recommend 2-3 servings of fruits a day for better health. Drinking fruit juices is a convenient way to meet this daily requirement as these are concentrated.
Special care is given by nutritionists to stroke patients when it comes to natural anticoagulants, especially those who are under Warfarin medication. Consuming food with natural anticoagulants may require patients to check their International Normalized Ratio (INR) often as these might affect the dosage of their Warfarin. Consulting your nutritionist first on how you can incorporate natural anticoagulants is always a primary step.
GRAPES, APPLES, PINEAPPLES, & SPICES: GREAT ANTICOAGULANTS
Grapes contain phytonutrients called flavonoids that reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots. Grapes also have a flavonoid-type compound called resveratrol, which is more common in grape wine. It is actually recommended by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that a glass of red wine be taken after evening meals.
Purple grape juice’s antiplatelet activity, on the other hand, shows stronger than aspirin. This was reported at the 47th Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology. Drinking two cups of purple grape juice a day for seven days achieved a level of platelet aggregation reduction greater than some levels previously reported for aspirin.
Apples also contain phytonutrients like those found in grapes. According to a study made by UC Davis School of Medicine, drinking a 12-ounce glass of 100% apple juice (non-sweetened) every day for 6 weeks aids in delaying or breaking down LDL or bad cholesterol, which also causes stroke.
Pineapples are well-known as great sources of fiber, which acts like a broom in removing toxins in the blood and bad cholesterol. This is often the reason why it is recommended to people with high blood pressure.
Besides being a great fiber resource, pineapples also have enzymes called bromelain, which is a natural anticoagulant. Bromelain works by breaking down fibrin, the protein substance in blood that causes clotting.
Besides fruits and vegetables, nature has other anticoagulants in the form of herbs and spices. Ginger, for one, helps make blood platelets less sticky. If you don’t like eating meals with ginger, your other options are curry powder, cayenne powder, paprika, thyme, cinnamon, dill, oregano, turmeric, licorice, and peppermint.
There are many reasons why you need to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet. Enjoying natural anticoagulants together with your medication to avoid another stroke is one of them. Consult your nutritionist on how best you can incorporate an anticoagulant-rich diet with your current medication, and notify your anti-coagulation clinic on any sudden changes of diet that you implement.