Following a healthy diet during the stroke recovery process can boost your senior loved one’s brain health and restore many of the functions that were lost due to the brain attack. Healthy eating can also lower the risk of a recurrent stroke. Take a look at some of the best foods for senior stroke survivors and the benefits of each item.
Blueberries
The brain-boosting qualities found in this fruit should put it at the top of your loved one’s grocery list during the stroke recovery process. Whether your loved one eats blueberries with yogurt, mixed in smoothies, or as a snack, the fruit provides antioxidants that reduce cell damage and lower oxidative stress, which is an issue that accelerates brain aging. The antioxidants enhance brain signaling and have a positive impact on the memory. Blueberries can lower blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of heart disease as well as a recurrent stroke.
If your loved one needs help planning and preparing healthy meals, a professional caregiver can be a great source of support. In Clearwater, Home Care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Brown Rice
The vitamins and minerals found in brown rice increase the flow of blood throughout the brain. Brown rice contains significant amounts of fiber, which boosts blood sugar stability in aging stroke survivors. It’s a low-glycemic food that lowers cholesterol levels and prevents blood clots from forming. Your parent should avoid eating white rice and other refined carbohydrates while recovering from a stroke and instead choose healthy whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, and oats.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that reduces brain damage caused by a stroke. Eating tomatoes can prevent blood clots and other circulation problems that increase the risk of a recurrent stroke and slow the stroke recovery process. Your loved one can add tomatoes to salads and other entrées and still receive high levels of nutrients that benefit the brain and restore many functions after a stroke.
Recovering from a stroke, managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and a variety of other health-related situations can make it difficult for a senior to continue living at home without someone there to help. Clearwater, FL, live-in care professionals are trained to help seniors who need 24/7 assistance. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your elderly loved one can maintain a higher quality of life while aging in place.
Salmon
The nutrients in this fatty fish can protect the brain against reduced plasticity and impaired learning. By activating neuroplasticity following a stroke, your loved one can enhance his or her cognition and lower the risk of emotional health disorders such as depression. Eating more salmon and other fatty fish could lead to brain cell regeneration after a stroke.
Yogurt
Low-fat dairy products such as yogurt contain potassium and calcium, which are nutrients that help seniors control their blood pressure during the stroke recovery process. Low-fat yogurt has good HDL, which can boost cognition, increase bone health, lower anxiety, and prevent depression following a stroke. Consuming healthy amounts of yogurt could help your parent maintain a healthy weight and increase his or her energy levels. Eating soft foods such as yogurt may also be a good choice due to the chewing and swallowing issues many senior stroke survivors experience.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. For more information about our flexible, customizable home care plans, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (727) 330-7862.