Cardiologist guides on how to eat to prevent stroke
Changing your diet, eating more vegetables, whole grains, beans and unsaturated olive oil will protect your heart health and prevent strokes.
Dr. Gregory Katz, a cardiologist at Langone Health, New York University, USA, advises as above, adding that to live long, paying attention to cardiovascular health from now is very important. The common mistake that many people make is waiting too long before taking action, which can have big consequences.
Many people think heart disease comes on suddenly without any symptoms. Many wonder why they have heart attacks or strokes. "The seeds are planted early," says Dr. Katz.
Healthy eating habits and daily exercise can have a big impact on protecting the heart and preventing future heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Katz says taking medication isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes patients delay taking it to focus on changing their habits and managing their risks.
Many people aren’t honest with themselves about the lifestyle changes they can actually make, Katz says. Focus on small, sustainable changes. Cutting calories from water can have a big impact. The typical American diet is high in processed foods, refined sugars, red meat, and saturated fat, which are linked to high cholesterol and heart disease risk. To protect your heart and lower your cholesterol, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and unsaturated fats like olive oil.
However, making drastic dietary changes can be difficult, and changing too many things at once can be ineffective. One simple way to improve your heart-healthy diet is to reduce your intake of sugary drinks or alcohol.
Sugary drinks, calories, and alcohol are factors that can be adjusted immediately. According to studies, soft drinks, fruit juices, sweetened coffee drinks, and cocktails can all contribute to health risks such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
One nutritionist suggested a good strategy to cut down on sugary drinks is to replace them with the following options:
- Soda mixed with a little fruit juice.
- Unsweetened tea.
- Water flavored with lemon or herbs like mint.
Shifting calories from water is an important first step to improving key factors for heart health and a longer life. This includes stabilizing blood pressure, blood sugar and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels./.
