When I watched my uncle suffer a stroke and his whole health deteriorated, I decided to concentrate on a journey to healthy eating after stroke to help him. For the past year, I have helped my uncle recover through healthy dieting tips and nutritious foods that help both the mind and the body through promoting proteins with brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). There has been an increase in stroke cases globally due to poor dieting and unhealthy lifestyles. Stroke has been ranked as the fifth killer disease and the leading cause of disability within America.

Foods with BDNF are useful because they enhance neurogenesis, which is a creation of new neurons and cells in a brain, that replaces the damages of a stroke. Neurogenesis helps in recovery because it is different from neuroplasticity, which comprises of rewiring and reorganizing a brain.

What foods should a person avoid while recovering from a stroke?

1. Saturated Fats and Refined Sugar should be avoided because they reduce neuroplasticity, BDNF, learning and lead to an increase in weight. A person recovering from a stroke should avoid these in their diet:

Foods to use while recovering from a Stroke!

1. Olive oil 

It is important because it contains unsaturated fats that promote the rise of apolipoprotein A-IV.

2. Fish 

It is important because it contains Omega 3 fatty acids that normalize BDNF levels and help in impairing learning ability after brain injuries. 

Other sources of Omega 3 include Egg yolks, Chia seeds, Salmon, Flaxseeds and Hemp seeds

3. Blueberries

Blueberries contains antioxidants that boost memory, neurogenesis and assist cognitive functioning

4. Pomegranate

Pomegranate juice or fruits contain potent antioxidants that help protect the brain from free radical damages. 

5. Tomatoes

They are rich in antioxidant lycopene that reduces brain damages caused by stroke.

6. Nuts, walnuts, and flaxseeds

Nuts are excellent sources of vitamin E which is also an antioxidant that helps in preventing cognitive deterioration as people age or due to stroke.

7. Avocados

Avocados are fatty fruits that help people to think faster due to the oleic acid they contain.

8. Beans

Beans help the brain to acquire glucose steadily, a source of fuel. Beans stabilize blood glucose levels

9. DASH and Mediterranean diets

The combination of the two diets help in overcoming neurodegenerative diseases and advise patients to avoid eating Cheese, Butter, and margarine, Fried food, Red meat, Pastries, and sweets.

The diet combination advocates a stroke recovering patient to eat; 

Green, leafy vegetables

Nuts

Olive oil

Whole grains

Poultry

Berries

Beans

Fish

Wine

During this journey, I saw the tremendous changes in the brain functioning of my uncle showing that these foods help in recovery. At first, he would stammer, poor concentration ability and get confused about events and situations.

Through the strict observation of the diet, he has changed and started remembering the past, has improved his speech, he does not get so lost in conversations and has reduced emotional outbursts. I implore all recovering stroke patients to try the diet! 

By Hussain Almusayid