Stroke & Diet – Part 4 (End).

Stroke & Diet

Good nutrition is the goal, but the food is not just about nutrition. It is about emotions, culture and being social. What and how we eat is so personal that changing eating habits can be difficult. The best advice for stroke survivors is the same for everyone!

Eat a low-fat diet with a variety of grains, vegetables and fruits along with some high-protein foods like meat or dairy products and balance how many calories of intake with exercises.

Deciding to change is the first step and remind yourself that changes don’t have to take place overnight. Start with easy ones then one by one add more kinds of vegetables, and reduce portion sizes.

Bladder problems are another issue. Quite often, fear of having to go to the bathroom frequently or loss of bladder control causes a person to limit fluids. This can cause other problems such as dehydration, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite and constipation.

Depression can affect people’s appetite in different ways. Many people turn to certain foods for comfort when they are depressed. These may be old favorites from childhood – scoop of ice cream, mashed potatoes etc. The danger is overdosing it and increasing the intake of sugars, fats and other unhealthy elements. There are some who lose their appetite when they are depressed. Eating with others can help you and the person in your care stay connected. Remember that staying physically active can help decrease the symptoms of depression.

Bowel management often involves preventing constipation. Fiber counts…add up! Fibers are found in cereals, grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits. A diet rich in fiber (about 25 to 30 grams each day) along with adequate fluid intake and physical activity can help promote good bowel function. Fiber also provides a sense of fullness, which helps in managing how much one eats.

This will be the concluding Part of Stroke & Diet and hope that you find these Four Parts useful or helpful, especially if you have a family member or friend who is a stroke survivor. What was written under Stroke & Diet in these four Part mini-Series are collections from various sources and it is difficult to give any references to them. I suppose with the Internet checking for further reading to these is not such a difficult task anymore. Thank you for your patience!

Act Now! Improve patient’s mobility with Falcon lightweight wheelchair

Keep this walking stick handy, and be safe.

Additional Reading on effective 14-day Soup Diet

Related Post:

Stroke & Diet Part 1 ~ Stroke & Diet – Part 2  ~ Stroke & Diet – Part 3

What is a Stroke? ~ Facts of Stroke & The Warning Signs. ~ Stroke Risk Factors. ~ Understanding Spasticity Eating & The Stroke Survivor ~
The Job No One Asks For Caregivers Month ~ Botox & Spasticity ~ The ABC’s of Caregiving Behavioural Changes ~ There is Hope ~ Improving Awareness ~ Fall Prevention for Stroke Survivors ~ Sleep Disorders.