Groente en fruit tegen beroertes.*

Uit dierenstudies blijkt dat de anti-oxidanten in groente en fruit de ernst van een beroerte wel tot 75% kunnen verminderen. Ook de herstelperiode na een beroerte was veel korter. Getest werd met spinazie, blauwe bessen en spirulina. Verder bleek ook dat de mentale achteruitgang bij ouderen tegen gegaan werd. Allemaal redenen om meer groente en fruit te eten zeggen de onderzoekers die nog eens accentueren dat het vooral gaat om anti-oxidanten uit groente en fruit en niet als supplement omdat in groente en fruit veel andere natuurlijke voedingstoffen zitten, die niet aanwezig zijn in supplementen.

Antioxidants help limit stroke damage

 - Diets rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories may help prevent severe strokes and speed recovery after stroke.

In animal studies at the University of South Florida, researchers tested spinach, blueberries and an algae known as spirulina for their ability to prevent stroke damage. These foods are particularly high in antioxidants and chemicals that help prevent inflammation.

For the study, the physicians fed three groups of rats chow that had been enriched with one of these foods. A fourth control group received regular chow. After a month, a stroke was induced in the rats and their response and recovery were measured.

The rats fed blueberries and spinach experienced a stroke that was 50 percent smaller than the control group. The rats fed spirulina experienced a stroke that was 75 percent smaller. In addition, all the groups of rats receiving supplementation showed greater proportional increases in rehabilitation.

This study, which will be published in the May issue of Experimental Neurology, supports previous work conducted at the University of South Florida. In previous experiments, diets high in spinach, blueberries and spirulina reversed normal age-related declines in memory and learning among older rats.

In their conclusion, the researchers say that this information provides and inexpensive, relatively easy way to reduce the severity of strokes: eat more vegetables and fruit.

However, lead author and neuroscientist Paula Bickford, Ph.D, cautioned against relying on dietary supplements that claim to have the same antioxidants as these healthy foods. Whole foods contain nutrients and chemicals that are not found in dietary supplements, so the benefits of these foods may extend beyond just one or two components.  (Mei 2005)

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