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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : June 13, 2014 6:51 PM IST
Just increasing your protein intake by 20 g per day can reduce your stroke risk as per a meta-analysis published in the online journal Neurology. Especially if the protein is from fish.
The participants with the highest protein consumption, however, had the most significant stroke reduction: they were 20 percent less likely to develope a stroke that those with the lowest protein consumption. The meta-analysis involved seven studies that followed a total of 254,489 patients for an average of 14 years each. Other stroke risk factors such as cholesterol and smoking were taken into account.
Risk of stroke decreased by 26 percent for every additional 20g consumed per day. Protein is able to lower blood pressure, according to results, which is presumed to be the reason for decreased risk of stroke in those with a high-protein diet. 'If everyone's protein intake were at this level, that would translate to more than 1.4 million fewer deaths from stroke each year worldwide, plus a decreased level of disability from stroke,' said study author Xinfeng Liu, MD, PhD, of Nanjing University School of Medicine in Nanjing, China. (Read: 8 ways to prevent a stroke (Gallery))
However, the research also suggests that the source of the protein makes a difference. Two of the studies were conducted in Japan, where red meat consumption is significantly less than in the West, meaning that the results do not apply to those getting most of their protein from red meat. 'These results indicate that stroke risk may be reduced by replacing red meat with other protein sources, such as fish,' Liu said. He added that animal protein, however, was more effective at decreasing risk of stroke than vegetable protein. (Read: Recognize symptoms of stroke, provide help in the golden hour!)
What is stroke?
Also known as a cerebrovascular accident, stroke is a medical emergency that arises when arteries that supply blood to the brain get affected. As a result a part of the brain doesn't receive sufficient blood supply. Without blood and nutrient supply, the brain cells get affected and can die within a few minutes. Stroke often results in long-term dysfunction of the body part controlled by the affected brain area. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic stroke and haemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused due to a block (blood clot) in the blood vessel whereas a haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding through a tear in the blood vessel. Damage occurred by has a huge impact on various aspects of life and well-being. A single stroke can makes a person age by 36 years. People who survive a stroke need rigorous treatment and rehabilitation methods to achieve full recovery. Strokes can be prevented with healthy diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes. Stroke can be more damaging in women and hence women can refer to these guidelines for stroke prevention in women. (Read: Stroke causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention)
With inputs from AFP
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