Fairfax Hospital Neuroscience Services - Inova Health System

Nutrition After a Stroke
Everyone who has had a stroke should ask their doctor about an individual weight goal. If your
doctor prescribes a heart healthy diet, the following information is provided as a guide.
Heart Healthy Diet
May help lower cholesterol levels
Can reduce plaque build-up in the arteries
May help keep high blood pressure under control
Can help you lose weight
What to Eat
Remember to include:
Vegetables
Fruit
Whole grains
Low fat dairy products
Legumes
Lean protein sources
The key is to eat a variety of healthy foods and increase the fiber in your diet. Aim for 25g of
fiber per day. As you adjust your fiber intake, remember to drink plenty of fluids to prevent
constipation. Also, fish is a good source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Try to eat fish
two times per week.
Try to eat fewer foods with:
Cholesterol
Saturated fat
Trans fat
Salt
Added sugar
Substitute unsaturated fat for saturated fat. Aim for foods with little or no saturated or trans fat.
Limit sodium to less than 2300 mg sodium or the level set by your doctor. The New 2010
Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends reducing sodium intake to 1500mg among
persons who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or have
hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease.
Reading Food Labels
When reading food labels, or the “Nutrition Facts” area, remember to look for:
Serving size – this is the amount of food in one serving. Look at this closely because it
may not be the amount in the container.
Calories – the total calories in one serving
Total fat
Saturated fat and trans fat
Sodium
Dietary fiber
PATIENT INFORMATION GUIDE FOR STROKE
inova.org/neuro