Stroke Prevention Diet A healthy diet to help prevent a stroke should include:
- Limit fat intake to no more than 30% of your total calories.
- Eat quality fats:
- Use virgin olive oil and other unsaturated, low-cholesterol fats.
- 10% to 15% of your total calories should be in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids (e.g. olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil).
- Eat less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.
- Reduce salt in your diet to no more than 3 grams per day. You doctor may lower this recommendation to no more than 2 grams if you have high blood pressure or congestive heart failure.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Eat more complex carbohydrates, such as starch and fiber. Whole grains and brown rice are good fiber sources. Other sources include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Bran
- Barley
- Oats
- Legumes
- Limit iron intake:
- Eat more soy.
- Avoid fad diets:
- Eat a well-rounded diet instead.
- Check with your doctor about supplementing your diet with B vitamins. Some people may benefit from these supplements.
