Nutrition After a Stroke
Having a healthy eating plan after you ’ ve had a stroke will help you to manage risk factors and improve your health . Although you are likely taking medications to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol , following this plan will aid in managing those risk factors and will have many healthy benefits .
This plan includes :
� Foods that are low in sodium , which comes mainly from salt
� Plenty of vegetables , fruits , whole grains , and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
� Heart-healthy kinds of fat to reduce the buildup of plaque in your blood vessels
Difficulty Swallowing ( Dysphagia )
After a stroke , some people have problems with swallowing . If you do , you will be taught how to manage this and what textures and types of foods and liquids are safe for you . This is important in preventing food or liquids from going down your windpipe into your lungs .
Weight Loss
Talk with your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you . If you need to lose weight , try decreasing your portion sizes and focus on eating vegetables , fruits , whole grains , healthy fats , and lean protein . You can also ask your doctor , dietitian , or nurse for more resources and information on weight loss .
To Help Control Blood Pressure
� Ask your doctor or dietitian how much sodium is right for you .
� Limit the sodium that you get from food and drinks .
• Do not salt food at the table .
• Use very little , if any , salt when you cook .
• In general , avoid foods with more than 300 milligrams ( mg ) sodium per serving . These may be too high in sodium for your meal plan .
• Check labels on processed meats and commercially prepared and prepackaged foods . These are often high in sodium .
• Choose carefully when eating out . Restaurant foods can be very high in sodium . Request low-salt or no-salt foods . Many restaurants will prepare food with less salt upon request .
� Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are high in potassium .
• Good fruit choices are bananas , oranges , apricots , cantaloupe , and apples .
• Good vegetable choices include potatoes , sweet potatoes , tomatoes , spinach , and zucchini .
� Use fat-free and low-fat dairy products . These will help you get the calcium and potassium that your body needs .
16