An expansive Swedish survey that was coordinated among women at Karolinska Institute led to a conclusion that diets that are comprised with foods rich in antioxidants result in lower risk levels of stroke. Women who have been diagnosed with heart disease and are known to have higher risks associated with stroke were also included in these findings. The medical journal produced by the American Heart Association, Stroke, published findings that concentrated on elderly and middle-aged women's diets. Those women that did not suffer from heart disease experienced a 17% risk reduction, while those with some form of heart disease reduced their risk of stroke by 57% when they adopted a diet loaded in antioxidants.

Hope study supports the Swedish findings

The HOPE study (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) is another study that was conducted in recent years that supported the findings of the Swedish study. The HOPE study specifically followed 10,000 patients at risk for stroke in excess of four years and these patientsalso experienced lower risks through increased intakes of vitamin E.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants

In the human body, free radicals damage cells. Foods that are rich in antioxidants seem to neutralize free radicals in order to better preserve cells. In addition, foods that are rich in antioxidants also result in blood clot reduction and lower blood pressure. The array of foods that are rich in antioxidants include blueberries, artichokes and Russet potatoes, as well as dark beans. As a matter of fact, all black foods are typically rich in antioxidants simply because of their pigment levels. Black beans and black rice are great examples of abundantsources of antioxidants. Another study conducted at Louisiana State University evenfound that black rice contains more antioxidants than the fruit that is commonly perceived to be the richest source of antioxidants: blueberries.

It is easy to find such studies being conducted in the world of health and medicine and most commonly, they attempt to identify relationships between certain food items and some or other health issue. After perusing numerous studies, it becomes common sense that a generally healthy diet will result in positive health, and similarly, a bad diet filled with fatty foods and high cholesterol will affect health negatively. A university-led study is not necessary to arrive at that conclusion. Although it is very easy to prove that foods rich in antioxidants are certainly going to result in lower risks of stroke and heart disease, it is also equally important to consider that a diet that ishealthy overallwill result in better health.