Dear Maryellen…
My dad is in his mid-eighties, sharp as a tack. We don’t see him dealing with memory problems except the normal forgetfulness that comes with age. (Who isn’t these days, right?!) But before mom died, she suffered two strokes, and I was wondering if there were any diet changes dad can make to help him avoid the same?  -Lorraine, Babylon, NY

Dear Lorraine,
A lot of study has been conducted in this area, and many great ideas come immediately to mind. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and even when death does not occur, the effects left behind by a stroke can be devastating to patient and loved ones. But, since strokes are related in great part to high cholesterol and hypertension, there are actions we can take every day that can often decrease the risk — changes in diet included. Let’s take a quick peak. (more…)