"An
apple a day keeps the doctor away," the old saying goes. True,
according to research, which continually demonstrates that
eating fruits and vegetables helps reduce the risk of developing
heart disease, cancer and a host of other severe health conditions;
this protective effect may extend to the risk of stroke, a
condition in which part of the brain does not get enough oxygen
(usually because a blood vessel suddenly bursts) and begins
to die.
In a study published in Stroke (a journal of the American
Heart Association), more than 40,000 men and women were tracked
from 1980-1998, gathering data on fruit and vegetable intake
(particularly green and yellow fruits and vegetables) at the
beginning of the study and registering deaths from stroke
during the entire study period. Daily intake of fruits and
vegetables was associated with a 26 percent reduction in the
risk of total stroke in men and women, compared to those consuming
the foods only once weekly.
It's been estimated that someone suffers a stroke every 53
seconds. This horrific event claims more than 158,000 lives
every year, and leaves millions more temporarily or permanently
debilitated. If you know a stroke survivor, ask them if they
would have eaten more fruits and vegetables in return for
their health.
The obvious conclusion: Make sure you get adequate
daily intake of fruits and vegetables - it may save your life
or the life of someone you love.
To learn more about health and nutrition, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition/index.html.
Reference:
Sauvaget C, Nagano J, Allen N, et al. Vegetable and fruit
intake and stroke mortality in the Hiroshima/Ngasaki Life
Span Study. Stroke 2003:34(10), pp2355.
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