FRUIT & VEG | Cut the Risk of Stroke
Eating more than the recomended five portions of fruit and veg a day can cut the risk of stroke, a study says:
People who ate 3-5 cut the risk of stroke by 11% compared to those eating fewer than 3 portions.
Source: The Lancet Report
People who ate over 5 portions of fruit and veg per day lowered their risk of stroke by 26%
Source: University of London | The research was found in a study of over 250,000 people.
Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death and most common cause of disability in most of the developed world.
The researchers pooled data from 8 studies from Europe, Japan & the US.
Lead researcher Dr Feng said a diet including lots of fruit and veg was also likely to further reduce the risk of other forms of cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Fruit & veg are full of nutrients such as vitamin C, beta carotene and potassium as well as plant proteins and dietary fibre.
They are also less dense in calories, have very little fat and contain beneficial antioxidants.
However, the researchers susspect potassium maybe the most important factor in preventing stroke.
People who eat more potassium have lower blood pressure.
By increasing to 5 portions per day from 3, increases your potassium intake by 50%.
Simply increasing your daily intake of fruit and veg to 5 or more per day could reduce the number of strokes by 26%. In the UK, that would mean nearly 40,000 strokes a year.
- MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE IN THE UK HAVE A STROKE EACH YEAR.
- STROKES KILL 67,000 PEOPLE IN THE UK EVERY YEAR.
- MORE THAN 250,000 PEOPLE IN THE UK LIVE WITH SEVERE DISABILITY CAUSED BY STROKE.
Category: Health News
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