Could a High Protein Diet Lower your Stroke Risk?

"You are what you eat," or so 'they' say.

For many of us, what we put in our bodies increases our risk for or exacerbates pre-existing medical conditions. And of course, certain superfoods, like fruits and vegetables, are healthier than, say, candy. Yet not all healthy foods carry the same benefits.

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Nanjing University School of Medicine in Nanjing, China, examines how a diet rich in protein, specifically from fish, could help lower blood pressure levels and stroke risk, overall. Their research is published in the journal Neurology.

As the Stroke Association estimates that about 795,000 Americans experience a new or recurrent stroke every year, poor diet can contribute as a major risk factor to a potential stroke. As a result, high-fat foods that result in accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries can cause atherosclerosis and increase blood pressure levels.

For the study, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of available research to determine any links between dietary protein intake and stroke risk.

Results showed that participants with the highest levels of proteins in their diets were 20 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke. Those who added an additional consumption of 20 grams of proteins every day also reduced their stroke risk by as much as 26 percent.

Though certain vegetables offer nutritious dietary protein, researchers found that stroke risk was the lowest in participants who ate more animal protein. However, they cautioned that animal protein should be received from fish rather than red meat, which can potentially increase stroke risk and other health issues.

"This risk reduction would be translated into a reduction of 1,482,000 stroke deaths every year worldwide and is expected to produce overall health benefits by decreasing the level of disability," the researchers said, according to Medical News Today

Although researchers were not yet able to determine the exact role of dietary protein in reduced stroke risk, they believe that its ability to lower blood pressure may be part of the connection.

Researchers note that further studies will need to be conducted in order to strengthen results.