Healthy Foods for Seniors After Having a Stroke

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Healthy Foods Seniors Should Eat After a Stroke in Montgomery, AL

Your senior loved one’s nutritional needs may change after having a stroke. It’s for this reason that certain foods should be incorporated into his or her diet to maintain optimal health. Here are some healthy foods for seniors to eat after having a stroke and why they are essential.

Bananas

One of the most common risk factors in the development of a stroke is high blood pressure. The mineral potassium is thought to have a positive effect on hypertension. Potassium-rich foods should be incorporated into your loved one’s diet after he or she experiences a stroke. While prescription medications can lower blood pressure, some seniors are unable to tolerate the side effects. Bananas are an excellent source of dietary potassium, and in addition to regulating blood pressure, bananas may also control the heart rate, enhance sleep, and keep angina at bay. 

Senior stroke survivors need professional guidance on changing their diet to prevent a second stroke and speed up recovery. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care Montgomery, AL, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Citrus Fruits

Another excellent food choice for seniors who have had strokes is citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is thought to have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease and stroke. Vitamin C-rich foods are also thought to have potent anti-inflammatory effects on the blood vessels, which may lower the risk for a subsequent stroke. While adding more citrus fruit may provide beneficial health benefits to stroke survivors, eating grapefruit may be contraindicated when taking certain prescription medications. Before your loved one eats grapefruit or drinks grapefruit juice, talk to his or her physician about any potential interactions between grapefruit and current medications. 

Some older adults find it difficult to chew and swallow food after a stroke, and these concerns may require professional assistance. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Montgomery, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Home Care Assistance, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

Salmon

Fresh fatty fish such as salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids. These substances play important roles in decreasing strokes and blood clots and protecting the arteries from inflammation. Many stroke survivors are prescribed anticoagulants to reduce the risk for another stroke. However, these medications can increase the risk of abnormal bleeding. If your loved one is unable to tolerate the side effects of prescription blood thinners or is seeking alternatives to blooding thinning drugs, talk to the doctor about increasing the intake of salmon.

Fiber-Rich Foods

Strokes cause neurological deficits that may create problems with the lower gastrointestinal tract, leading to severe constipation, and in some cases, severe abdominal pain and fecal impaction. Your loved one should increase his or her intake of fiber-rich foods such as legumes and fresh fruit and vegetables. Constipation can place stress on the heart and raise blood pressure, which may heighten the risk for a subsequent stroke. In addition to increasing the dietary intake of fiber-rich foods, talk to the physician about adding a stool softener to your loved one’s medication regimen. The combination of increased dietary fiber intake and an over-the-counter stool softener may establish a normal pattern of bowel elimination.

Expert caregivers can help seniors make smart lifestyle choices to boost stroke recovery.   When searching for reliable Montgomery elderly home care agencies, families want to know their senior loved one will be well taken care of. At Home Care Assistance, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more. If you have any questions about our premier senior care and how we can help your loved one during stroke recovery, give us a call at (334) 593-3988 today.

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