A healthy diet plays a role in reducing the risk of a recurrent or first time stroke, while an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of stroke. Being overweight increases the risk of stroke. In general, a healthy diet is low in saturated fats, sodium, and sugar while being high in fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Examples of heart healthy diets include the DASH diet, the Mediterranean diet, and certain vegetarian diets.[1]
How could diet affect strokes?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
A healthy diet can reduce the risk of both recurrent and first-time strokes, whereas an unhealthy diet increases that risk. Key components of a heart-healthy diet include low saturated fats, sodium, and sugar, along with high intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.