Stroke, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a general term for acute cerebrovascular diseases, primarily including cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage. Due to its high incidence, mortality, disability rate, recurrence rate, and the many complications associated with it, stroke is considered one of the three major diseases threatening human health.
When a family member suffers from a stroke, especially in terms of diet, special attention is needed on how to care for them. Here are some basic dietary principles for stroke patients:
Basic Dietary Principles for Stroke Patients:
- Eat Light Foods:
Food should be light and not overly salty, especially for patients with high blood pressure, as sodium in salt is detrimental to high blood pressure. - Choose Healthy Fats:
Use plant oils such as olive oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, and canola oil, which contain unsaturated fatty acids and help reduce serum cholesterol. Animal fats and high-cholesterol foods like butter, fatty meat, and organ meats should be avoided. - Eat More Vegetables and Fruits:
Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits, and consume high-quality proteins such as fish, lean meat, and easily digestible foods like milk, soy milk, rice porridge, and soft noodles. - Dietary Habits:
Avoid overeating and binge eating. Drinking an appropriate amount of water helps prevent constipation and urinary tract infections.
Dietary Adjustments for Different Stages of Stroke:
- Acute Phase:
The patient may experience fever, excessive phlegm, convulsions, or be bedridden, and digestion and absorption functions may decline. Therefore, easily digestible and nutritious foods should be chosen, and soups should be added. For example, fish or lean meat can be cooked with vegetables to make soup. - Recovery and Sequelae Phases:
The focus should be on tonifying and supporting the body. Suitable ingredients include astragalus, codonopsis, ginseng, angelica, panax notoginseng, salvia, goji berries, gastrodia, and hawthorn. However, the diet should be adjusted based on the patient’s specific symptoms, avoiding excessive tonification.
Herbal and Medicinal Foods Suitable for Stroke Patients at Any Stage:
Tian Shen Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
- 90g chicken
- 10g Panax notoginseng (Tian Shen)
- 10g Red ginseng
- 30g Astragalus
Preparation:
Break the Panax notoginseng into pieces. Heat the chicken and 3 slices of ginger in oil, then add all ingredients into a clay pot with an appropriate amount of water. Simmer on low heat for two hours, then season to taste. Drink with meals.
Benefits:
Strengthens the body, invigorates blood, and unblocks channels.
Chuanxiong and Astragalus Porridge
Ingredients:
- 15g Chuanxiong
- 30g Astragalus
- 100g Japonica rice
Preparation:
- Boil Chuanxiong and Astragalus three times to extract the medicinal juice.
- Wash the Japonica rice and place it into a pot.
- Add the Chuanxiong and Astragalus medicinal juice into the pot.
- Cook over medium heat until the rice becomes soft and fully cooked.
Benefits:
Invigorates blood, and nourishes the liver and kidneys.
Astragalus and Goji Turtle Soup
Ingredients:
- 200g Turtle meat
- 30g Astragalus
- 20g Goji berries
Preparation:
- Add an appropriate amount of water and stew all the ingredients until the turtle meat is tender and fully cooked.
- Serve and consume.
Benefits:
Strengthens the body, nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens the spleen, and resolves phlegm.
Tangerine Peel and Hawthorn Porridge
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 10g Tangerine peel
- 15g Dried hawthorn flesh
- 12g Radish seed (Lai Fu Zi)
- First, separately dry-fry the ingredients and grind them into a fine powder.
- Then, cook 100g glutinous rice into porridge. When the porridge is almost done, add the powdered ingredients and cook for a little longer.
- Add a pinch of salt for seasoning and it is ready to eat.
Benefits:
This porridge is suitable for individuals with poor appetite or high blood lipids. It helps to calm the liver, extinguish wind, and improve digestion.
Tien Qi and Danshen Soup
Ingredients for the Soup:
- 10g Tien Qi (Panax notoginseng) slices
- 10g Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
- A small amount of American ginseng or Korean ginseng (optional; can be omitted if the patient has high blood pressure or insomnia)
Preparation: Add the ingredients to lean meat or chicken to cook as a soup. Consume 2-3 times a week.
Health Benefits:
This soup helps to prevent stroke.
