by
Stepy —
April 16, 2020
- Eating organic foods and including them in smoothie recipes and drinks is key to reaching optimal health and to disease prevention.
- According to Mayo Clinic, “A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and food. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die.”
- A stroke is a medical emergency, and you must seek medical care immediately upon the occurrence of a stroke.
- The good news is that with the right diet and lifestyle, strokes can be prevented.
- This almonds and dark chocolate stroke prevention smoothie recipe is packed with ingredients that lower cholesterol and promote heart health, which can prevent strokes.
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- Almonds and dark chocolate stroke prevention smoothie:
- Almonds:
- They are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats that promote heart health and may reduce the risk of stroke.
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- Bananas:
- They are an excellent source of potassium. A recent study showed that an increase of potassium in the diet may reduce risk cardiovascular risk factors, including stroke.
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- Blueberries:
- They have been shown to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in the blood, which is very important for heart health. According to the American Heart Association, high cholesterol is one of the major factors for stroke.
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- Dark chocolate:
- A study from Karolinska Institute in Sweden showed that dark chocolate is linked to a reduced risk of stroke.
- This smoothie recipe has it all.
- Process the following ingredients in a blender:
- 4 almonds
- 1 banana
- 1 cup of blueberries
- 2 squares dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao)
- 1 cup of filtered water
- Enjoy!
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- As always: Check with your health practitioner before you change your diet and see if this smoothie recipe right for you. This drink is not meant to replace any treatment or drugs you are taking.
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- Dark chocolate may reduce the risk of stroke.
- Eating apples may reduce the risk of stroke.
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- REFERENCES:
- 1. Staff, MayoClinic. “Stroke.” MayoClinic.org. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
- 2. Pande, Reena, MD. “Getting More Potassium and Less Salt May Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk.” Harvard Health Blog. Harvard School of Public Health, 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
- 3. “Effect of Increased Potassium Intake on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analyses.” BMJ.com. BMJ, 04 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
- 4. “Effect of Lower Sodium Intake on Health: Systematic Review and Meta-analyses.” BMJ.com. BMJ, 04 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
- 5. “Why Cholesterol Matters.” Heart.org. American Heart Association, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
