Nutrition and Stroke Recovery

After a stroke, looking after your health becomes more important than ever – and a balanced diet plays a key role in rebuilding strength and supporting recovery. While this journey can bring challenges, such as changes to taste and smell or difficulties with swallowing, it can also be a time of rediscovery.

Eating and drinking become more than just daily habits; they turn into a sensory experience, where new flavours, preferences, and textures are explored. What may feel difficult at first can, over time, become easier with the right support, patience, and small, positive steps forward.

Learning ways to adapt meals can help. The Stroke Association recommend the following tips to maintain a healthy diet:

• Aim for at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Make starchy foods a third of your meals.
• Reduce processed meats and takeaways.
• Limit salt to 1 teaspoon per day, including hidden sources.
• Include daily protein from oily fish, beans, pulses, nuts and seeds.
• Stay hydrated for optimal bodily function.

Download their full guide for other practical tips to stay nourished and hydrated.

Of course, even when staying healthy, everybody deserves a sweet treat once in a while and that why at all of our meetups we provide tea and healthy cake! Our next meetup is on Tuesday, 7^th Apil 2pm – 3:30pm at Cardiac Health. It’s a great opportunity to meet with like-mind individuals who understand what you are going through. Come along, have a chat, get stuck into some activities, or sit and have a cup of tea – it’s up to you. We know that stroke recovery is hard, but even though it may feel like it at times, you are never alone, we are here for you.