Prohibited foods: can you drink coffee after a stroke?

Basic principles of nutrition

Nutrition after a stroke is based on a lifelong restriction on the intake of foods that can provoke a new attack.
Since relapse of ischemia is caused by primary diseases leading to vascular damage (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis), dietary nutrition should contribute to the full compensation of these diseases.

Principles of therapeutic nutrition:

1. High calorie content (2400-2650 kcal per day);
2. Reducing salt consumption to 3 g per day (no need to salt food at all);
3. The diet includes 5 meals, the dry portion of each serving does not exceed 150-200 g;
4. Products must not interact with medications;
5. Saturated and transgenic fats (fried and confectionery products, fatty red meats, margarine), foods with extractive and irritating effects (vinegar, mustard, pepper, ginger, caffeine) are removed from the diet;
6. Increasing phosphorus intake (dairy cuisine);
7. Recommended cooking methods are steaming, blanching and baking (especially meat, cabbage, apples);
8. Drink water only when required;
9. Approximate daily ratio of nutrients: proteins – 20%, fats – 10%, carbohydrates – 70%.

IMPORTANT! Patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus should use insulin after each meal and liquid in a clear dependence on the number of bread units (XU).

Artificial nutrition for ischemic stroke

Artificial nutrition is carried out enterally (while maintaining, to one degree or another, the movement of nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract) and parenterally.

The main elements of parenteral nutrition are water, sources of nitrogen and energy. As sources of nitrogen, specialists at the Yusupov Hospital use synthetic amino acid mixtures containing adequate and balanced amounts of nonessential and essential amino acids. Of the synthetic amino acid mixtures, the following drugs are most often used:

• azonutril;
• aminosteryl;
• Vamin;
• polyamine;
• Freamin.

The solutions ensure the synthesis of proteins from the administered amino acids, have a pronounced positive effect on protein metabolism, lead to a positive nitrogen balance and stabilization of the patient’s body weight. Amino acid mixtures remove toxins from the body by reducing the concentration of ammonia, which binds to the formation of non-toxic breakdown products.

Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital provide the amount of energy needed by patients with ischemic stroke through carbohydrates or a combination of fat emulsions and monosaccharide solutions (lipofundin, intralipid). For enteral nutrition of patients with ischemic stroke at the Yusupov Hospital, polymer or elemental mixtures are used. Polymer mixtures contain fats, proteins and carbohydrates in proportions typical of a normal human diet. They consist of the following ingredients:

• whole protein isolates (milk, soy, meat, eggs);
• partially hydrolyzed starch;
• triglycerides;
• the necessary set of vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

Before absorption, these mixtures undergo enzymatic treatment in the intestines. Elemental mixtures contain:

• amino acids or short peptides;
• dextrose and oligosaccharides;
• essential fatty acids and medium chain triglycerides.

They are administered to patients if it is impossible to use polymer mixtures due to a pronounced decrease in the absorption and digestive functions of the intestine. The Yusupov Hospital also widely uses specific biologically significant elements that purposefully correct metabolic disorders such as:

• glutamine;
• branched amino acids;
• arginine;
• taurine;
• nucleic acids;
• microelements;
• antioxidants;
• vitamins.

In severe ischemic stroke, the inclusion of antioxidants in the enteral nutrition regimen provides better control over the increase in metabolism and reduces the time required for compensation of internal toxicosis. Doctors at the Yusupov Hospital for stroke prefer early enteral nutrition as it is more physiological and easier to administer. Early enteral nutrition can solve the problem of “empty intestines.”

The movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract maintains the normal state and composition of the intestinal microflora. By prescribing artificial enteral nutrition to a patient with an ischemic stroke who is unable to feed on his own, doctors at the Yusupov Hospital prevent the occurrence of septic complications associated with the penetration of microorganisms from the intestines into the blood.

Principles for choosing drinking products

When choosing drinks, the patient is guided by their composition and effect on the nervous system and digestion.
Drinking products must replenish the lack of fluid that occurs due to the inflammatory process and meet the following requirements:

1. The ingredients do not contain irritating components (ginger, bergamot, kombucha) or substances that affect the nervous system (caffeine, alcohol);
2. Concentrated drinks are diluted with water;
3. Ready-made foods containing dyes, gases and preservatives from the diet
4. The optimal liquid temperature is 35-45 degrees;
5. In the early rehabilitation period, drinks that cause thirst (with a sweet taste) or have a diuretic effect (fruit drinks, decoctions) are not consumed.

The optimal diet (treatment table No. 12) for stroke patients was developed by Russian doctor Manuil Isaakovich Pevzner. The table is designed to restore the functions of the nervous system and is characterized by a reduction in the amount of salt, carbohydrates and extractives, and an increase in phosphorus-containing products (liver, beans, milk) in the diet.

Coffee

Coffee made from coffee beans is a prohibited drink for people who have had a stroke. This ban especially applies to older people.

This is due to the high content of caffeine in the beans, which has a pronounced effect on the cerebral arteries: in the first minutes after consumption, the vessels expand sharply (the phase of general increase in tone), and then just as suddenly narrow (the phase of decrease in tone), which will not only cause lethargy in the patient , but will also increase the risk of a new attack.

REFERENCE. Coffee beans are not the only type of coffee. Varieties of the drink made from chicory, acorns, beets, barley, dandelion, sweet potato, pear seeds, hawthorn, dogwood, sunflower seeds and rye are safe for patients at any stage of rehabilitation.

What do the doctor's say?

If the recovery period is successful, then you can ask the attending physician’s permission to drink your favorite drink. If the doctor does not object, then coffee can be returned to the diet. However, with some reservations.

1. After completing the recovery period, you can allow yourself one cup a day of weak coffee, diluted with milk or cream. It is better to prepare it from high-grade Arabica beans; they contain much less caffeine than blends with the addition of Robusta.
2. You will have to forget about strong coffee forever. Unfortunately, its effect on the body increases the risk of a recurrent stroke, so you will have to exclude it from the diet.

I don’t want to end the article on such a sad note, so we remind all fans of real coffee that recent research into the effects of this drink has revealed the tonic effect that coffee has on the heart muscle. There are also positive results in preventing age-related changes in the brain. Coffee plays a significant role in combating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Of course, in combination with various types of physical and brain activity.

So be healthy and take care of yourself!

Tea

Some types of tea can be consumed after a stroke.
There are several types of tea: fermented (black, white, yellow), non-fermented (green), herbal, medicinal (pharmacy preparations).

Prohibited: strong tea of ​​any kind, medicinal teas without consulting a doctor, herbal tonic teas (with the addition of cinnamon, ginger). This is due not only to their ability to cause cerebral vasospasm, but also to possible interactions with medications.

Recommended teas after a stroke are weak herbal teas (chamomile, amaranth, mint, rosehip), hibiscus and green. Tea should be consumed separately from other foods.

Tea with mint

Mint is one of the foods approved for consumption after a stroke. The active substances contained in the plant have the ability to relax the muscle layer of blood vessels, thereby improving cerebral circulation.

The daily dose for patients is no more than 5 g of dried and no more than 3 g of fresh mint in tea or other products. Among all types of mint, preference should be given to field, cat and lemon varieties.

Vitamin E saves the brain after a stroke

In high doses, vitamin E can prevent the death of nerve cells in the acute period of stroke. Long-term use of small doses prevents the development of this disease.

Such conclusions were made by scientists at the University of Ohio (USA), according to The Times of India magazine.

According to the explanations of the authors of this study, the most common signs of stroke are numbness and weakness of the limbs, which are unilateral in nature, impaired coordination of movements, sudden pallor of the skin, speech disorders, nausea accompanied by dizziness, impaired swallowing, visual and oculomotor disorders. In this case, the stroke itself develops in just a few minutes or even seconds, being the result of impaired blood flow to the brain. It can be either primarily acute in nature or formed against the background of previous transient attacks of cerebral circulatory disorders.

Many scientists classify vitamin E as a means that reliably reduces the severity of the consequences of stroke brain damage. Vitamin E can reduce the risk of stroke and its complications due to the ability to block the release of enzymes responsible for the accumulation of toxic lipids and their peroxidation products in nerve cells.

In an experiment on mice, it was possible to show that those neurons that received vitamin E for a long time contain 60% less oxidized fatty acids than those of control group mice that were not exposed to tocopherol.

Vitamin E exists in nature in several forms. The most common is alpha-tocotrienol.

Sources of Vitamin E

A natural source of this substance is sea fish, any vegetable oils, soy-based products, milk, herbs, eggs, meat, and liver. It is especially worth noting the benefits of alpha-tocotrienol palm oil, which is 70% represented by this substance. According to the standards of domestic medicine and many world countries, the daily requirement for vitamin E is about 10 mg.

Kvass

Only certain types of kvass can be consumed after a stroke. Classic bread kvass does not affect blood circulation and the condition of blood vessels, but it can cause intestinal colic and bloating due to fermentation processes, and also has a diuretic effect, so it should not be consumed in the first year after an attack. Types of kvass allowed for early consumption: milk, berry, fruit, beet, honey (in the absence of diabetes).

REFERENCE. If a patient has an addiction to classic kvass (malt, bread, crackers), during the rehabilitation period it can be replaced with a similar-tasting but completely safe product - oatmeal jelly.

Causes of changes in metabolism during ischemic stroke

In patients with ischemic stroke, the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and urinary systems are most quickly involved in the pathological process, and multiple organ failure develops. During a stroke, the central regulatory organ suffers, which leads to a breakdown of central neurogenic control over the processes occurring in the internal organs.

Metabolic changes during stroke occur both as a result of powerful sympathetic stimulation of hormone release (glucagon, catecholamines, corticosteroids) and under the influence of local mediators. As a result of this reaction, the metabolism changes so that the body can absorb nutrients in the face of severe illness. This allows the mobilization of energy and substrates to support inflammatory and immune responses, as well as tissue regeneration. With ischemic stroke, protein deficiency develops, which ultimately leads to disruption of cell function and structure, as well as organ function.

In conditions of increased metabolism, an important role in the complex intensive care of ischemic stroke belongs to ensuring adequate nutrition using a number of methods other than regular food intake. A significant proportion of patients with ischemic cerebral stroke are unable to eat on their own, which is associated with a decreased level of consciousness or impaired swallowing function. Often the only possible way to deliver nutrients to these patients is artificial nutrition.

Milk

Milk can be consumed after discharge from the hospital. You should not drink milk in a hospital - in bedridden patients the product often causes dyspepsia. In later periods, milk consumption is not limited - it contains a lot of phosphorus, which is an active participant in nervous reactions, as well as protein.

Among all types of milk, you should prefer cow and goat, buffalo, mare, as well as vegetarian (rice, oat and, especially, nut). Powdered milk containing up to 30% fat should not be consumed.

Goat milk

Goat's milk is the most preferred type of milk for a stroke patient for several reasons:

1. The product does not contain casein (rarely causes allergies);
2. The fat molecules of goat's milk are smaller than those of cow's milk (rapid digestibility with no effect on cholesterol levels);
3. With the same calorie content as cow's milk, goat's milk contains more proteins (globulins and albumins), which mobilize immune responses. For this reason, goat milk is especially recommended for weakened patients.

The effect of coffee on the body

There is no clear answer to the question of whether an invigorating drink is harmful or beneficial. In addition to caffeine, coffee beans contain several thousand substances that can have both beneficial and negative effects on the human body.

The indisputable advantages of the drink include:

1. Stimulates brain activity and nervous processes, increases blood pressure. For this reason, coffee drink is a popular morning ritual - it helps shake off drowsiness, feel a surge of energy and good mood.
2. Activation of digestive processes and peristalsis, which makes the drink useful for people suffering from constipation.
3. Reducing appetite, improving metabolic processes and burning calories are valuable properties for those who want to lose weight. At the same time, exclusively pure coffee is dietary - without honey, sugar, milk or cream, chocolate and other sweets. Adding cognac or liqueur to an invigorating drink also increases its calorie content. To enhance the dietary effect, you can season the drink with ginger, cinnamon, chili pepper or lemon.
4. Increased blood pressure (coffee beans are recommended for hypotension).
5. Relaxing, calming effect.
6. Increased libido.

At the same time, the negative effects of coffee on the body have been identified:

1. Fluid retention in the body. To replenish its reserves, coffee must be combined with clean water.
2. Calcium leaching, especially when consumed more than 2 cups per day.
3. Stimulating the production of gastric juice. Therefore, coffee is contraindicated for patients with gastritis (with high acidity) and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.
4. Abuse of the drink can provoke rapid heartbeat, tremors, overexcitation, insomnia, and headaches. The person becomes irritable, anxious, and feels dizzy.
5. Due to the increase in blood pressure, coffee is not recommended for people suffering from hypertension.

Thus, coffee affects people differently. Therefore, it can be included in the diet only in the absence of contraindications and in moderate quantities.

Juices

A feature of juices is their high content of simple carbohydrates (fructose, glucose, sucrose).

If your stroke is accompanied by diabetes, drinking juices makes it much more difficult to control your sugar levels. In addition, sugar causes blood thickening in all patients, so juices should be consumed after dilution (1 part juice to 3 parts water).

Freshly squeezed juices increase gas formation and urination, which causes many additional complaints in bedridden patients, so they can be replaced with compotes and decoctions. Ready-made products from stores, as well as tomato juice, which contains a lot of salt, should not be consumed.

IMPORTANT! Most patients after a stroke are forced to use glucocorticosteroids for one reason or another. These drugs in 100% of cases help to increase blood sugar levels, so during the period of using hormones, juices are completely excluded from the diet.

Prohibited foods: can you drink coffee after a stroke?

The need for a therapeutic diet is determined by many factors and concomitant diseases that delay a person’s rehabilitation after a stroke. Spasm and stiffness of the arteries support the rich clinical symptoms of the disease.

Prolonged inflammation leads to loss of water, thickening of the blood and lack of fluid. The parallel formation of cholesterol plaques causes the risk of thromboembolism of a new vessel.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol after a stroke is prohibited. Its effect on the body depends entirely on the dose. In small doses, ethyl alcohol helps dissolve atherosclerotic plaques. In large doses, drinking alcohol causes:

1. Increased blood pressure;
2. Vasospasm;
3. Increased sweating with subsequent centralization of blood circulation;
4. Stimulation of the respiratory center;
5. Multiple brain manifestations (impaired memory, speech, breathing).

This negative effect is even more pronounced in patients who have persistent residual effects after a stroke.

REFERENCE. “Alcohol” and “ethyl alcohol” are synonymous concepts. At the same time, the consumption of alcohol substitutes (alcohols with other names) is strictly prohibited, including homemade alcoholic beverages.

What alcohol can be beneficial?

During the average period of rehabilitation (1-2 years), the use of all types of alcohol should be completely abandoned. Subsequently, a separate group of patients (with atherosclerosis) can use some types of wines in limited quantities (50 g per day for men, 30 g for women).

General requirements for wines for stroke survivors:

1. Alcohol content - no more than 10%;
2. Sugar content - no more than 1% (dry wines);
3. Type – white or red;
4. Natural origin and aging for no more than 2-3 years.

Often patients seek to replace wine with wine products. Such substitutes consist of alcohol, sugar and artificial fruit concentrates, and therefore should be completely excluded from the diet.

Coffee protects against stroke

As Swedish scientists have found, women who drink more than one cup of coffee a day have a 22-25% lower risk of stroke than those who do not drink this invigorating drink.

Scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Medicine came to this conclusion as a result of a study of data obtained over the past 10 years on more than 30 thousand women. The researchers also found that avoiding coffee or having low coffee consumption was associated with an increased risk of stroke. According to scientists, for many this will not be a sufficient reason to change the level of coffee consumption, but it will undoubtedly affect the popularity of this drink. This discovery made scientists very happy. They say that because coffee is one of the world's most consumed beverages, even the smallest health benefits have significant public health implications. Moreover, this popular drink does not contain alcohol, unlike wine.

The study did not differentiate between decaffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, but since decaffeinated coffee consumption is extremely low in Sweden, the results can be said to apply to decaffeinated coffee.