It’s no secret that eating a healthy, balanced diet is good for your health. For people who have had a stroke, the impact could be even more critical.
Research led by Dr. Phyllis Paterson is building a picture of some surprising ways that diet could affect stroke recovery. Her lab is one of the first to investigate the potential consequences of poor nutrition on stroke rehabilitation.
“The nutrition of stroke patients is a critical area of research that needs attention” says Dr. Paterson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan.
Malnutrition affects as many as 50% of stroke patients. Typically in North America, it’s a problem that is seen in elderly patients. But there’s another group, people who become malnourished as a result of their stroke. Difficulty swallowing, mobility issues and feelings of depression can interfere with a person’s ability to eat a full, balanced diet.
“We have some evidence that being malnourished makes stroke recovery worse,” Dr. Paterson says.
We think that nutrition could also be important in strength and in rehabilitation