An Apple a Day May Keep Strokes Away!

Apples may keep strokes away.

So may pears, bananas and cauliflower – or any fruit or vegetable with “white” flesh.

That’s the conclusion of a Dutch study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association in which researchers say the risk of stroke was 52 percent lower for people who ate a lot of white fruits and vegetables compared to people who ate less.

The study is the first to associate fruit and vegetable color groups with stroke.

White fruit and vegetables also include chicory, and cucumber. Potatoes were classified as a starch. The color of a fruit’s flesh is a clue to the type of nutrients in it. Apples and pears are high in dietary fiber and a flavonoid called quercetin.

In the study, green, orange/yellow and red/purple fruit and vegetables weren’t related to stroke. However, each 25-gram per day increase in white fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a 9 percent lower risk of stroke. An average apple is 120 grams.

But don’t stop eating other-colored fruit and vegetables. They may protect against other chronic diseases, researchers say.

Related Information:
American Heart Association news release
The American Heart Association recommends eating a diet rich in a variety of colors and types of vegetables and fruits, at least 4.5 cups a day. To learn more visit: Eat More Fruits and Vegetables and Tips to boost fruits and vegetables in your diet
Cooking with white fruits and vegetables can be easy – and healthy. Check out these recipes at the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Center:
Cool Cucumber Dip
Modern Tuna Pasta Casserole (add extra cauliflower)
Pear and Cherry Crumble