Strokes are potentially life-threatening conditions which occur when blood supply to the brain is temporarily cut off.
In the majority of cases this is as the result of a blood clot, but strokes can also be caused by a blood vessel bursting.
Like many medical issues, your overall risk for a stroke can be impacted by your diet.
One doctor spoke exclusively with Express.co.uk about foods to avoid for this reason.
Doctor Deborah Lee, from the Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, warned about the risks of excess sugar and salt in our diets.
Sugar
High-sugar diets increase the risk of stroke, she advised.
Dr Lee explained: “In a recent 2023 study, for every five percent increase of total calorie intake from sugar, there was a 10 percent increase in stroke risk.
“This was referring to ‘free sugars’ which are all the sugars added to food by manufacturers and also includes home sugars such as honey, syrup and any fruit juices – but not ‘non-free’ sugars found naturally in fruit, vegetables and dairy products.
“Eating too much sugar means you are often eating sugar instead of eating something healthier.
“High-sugar foods lead to spike in blood glucose levels which then causes cravings for more sugar.
“High-sugar foods are linked to obesity, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure.”
To cut back on sugar intake she recommended reading food labels and choosing low-sugar options.
Low-sugar foods are classified as foods containing five grams or less of total sugar per 100g.
Salt
Salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure – one of the triggers of a stroke.
“When blood pressure is too high, this increases the risk of rupture of a cerebral blood vessel – resulting in a brain haemorrhage – a stroke,” Dr Lee said.
“Salt is often hidden in foods. The average adult consumes nine to 12g of salt per day – twice the recommended amount of five grams per day.
“In a recent BMJ review of medical studies, switching to a salt substitute – which contains less sodium chloride and more potassium – lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and resulted in an 11 percent reduction in stroke and heart attack risk.”
She also recommended taking inspiration from the Mediterranean diet where possible to lower your risk of stroke.
The Mediterranean diet prioritises fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and healthy fats, and includes fewer ultra-processed foods and less meat.
Dr Lee added: “Lowering salt is not mentioned in the Mediterranean diet, but is part of the DASH diet – a modified Mediterranean diet developed to help lower blood pressure.
“DASH stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension. The DASH diet has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke by 12 percent.”
If you think someone you know is having a stroke you should call 999.
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