Foods to Eat After Having a Stroke
In-Home Care in Northfield
Nutrition is critical for older persons who have had a stroke, because the body needs resources to facilitate recovery. A healthy diet also reduces the risk of future strokes. Some elders, however, need help with food preparation and other critical duties. Senior stroke survivors should incorporate various nutritious foods into their diets. If your senior struggles to focus on food or cooking, it’s time to find the right in-home care provider to help them. These are professionals who excel at taking care of a senior person. Here are some foods you or in-home care can recommend a senior try to eat after a stroke.
Focus on Adding More Fruits and Vegetables
Stroke survivors should aim for at least two servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables daily. Antioxidants included in fruits and vegetables help prevent inflammation and blood vessel damage. The vitamins and potassium in these meals help decrease blood pressure, and the high fiber content helps lower LDL cholesterol, which plays a role in plaque formation.
Seniors Who Have Had Strokes Should Eat Whole Grains
Whole grain foods provide fiber, as well as other key minerals and vitamins that work together to help the body repair and prevent other cardiovascular diseases. Barley, brown rice, oats, and quinoa are all great examples of whole grains. While whole grain goods include breads, cereals, and pasta. Whole grains are one of the easiest things to work with, but a senior must read the packaging to ensure they’ve grabbed the right pasta or bread. All seniors must read labels, and if they can’t, it’s something that in-home care will need to help with.
Find the Right Meat, Fish, and Poultry
Protein is abundant in meat, fish, and poultry, which the body needs for cellular repair. Stroke sufferers, on the other hand, should limit their meat consumption to lean cuts. A four-ounce piece of meat should be the maximum for a meal. Oily fish should be consumed at least two to three times a week. Halibut, salmon, sardines, and tuna are high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which lower the risk of stroke. Two cooked eggs, 1/2 cup of beans or lentils, and 1/3 cup of almonds are all good protein sources.
Seniors Should Seek Healthy Fats
In general, healthy fats do not include things like donuts, sugar, or candy. These have bad fats that will not help your seniors thrive. Learning the difference between good and bad fat is crucial, because your body needs some fat. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, found in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, suppress inflammation and minimize free radical damage. Avocados, vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds are high in healthy fats.
Low Fat Dairy Products Can Be Good for Seniors
Dairy products include calcium and potassium, which help keep blood pressure under control. Cheese, custard, milk, and yogurt are all low-fat dairy alternatives. Low-fat dairy products contain all the minerals and benefits of dairy products, without the extra harmful ingredients that can worsen seniors’ symptoms after strokes. This is another thing your senior will have to look for through the right packaging.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-Home Care in Northfield, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.
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