Breakthrough protection against stroke

Stroke is now the top cause of disability nationwide—which means that taking steps to prevent it is one of the healthiest moves you can make. Reduce your risk as much as:

✓ 25% with B vitamins!

Just taking a daily B- complex supplement could cut your risk of ever having a stroke 25%, Canadian researchers say. Stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood and oxygen to the brain becomes blocked or bursts; this family of eight essential nutrients helps keep those blood vessels clear of clogs. One option: Twinlab’s Stress B- Complex Caps ($16 for 100 capsules, iherb.com). Follow package directions for dosage. ■ Important: Always check with your doctor before taking any supplement for the first time.

33% with tropical ✓

fruits!

Enjoying one cup of pineapple, mango, papaya or any other tropical fruit each day slashes your stroke risk 33%, report researchers in the journal Stroke. Tropical fruits are rich in carotenoids, nutrients that strengthen and heal blood vessel walls, plus help prevent blood clots, says study coauthor Demetrius Albanes, M.D.

✓ 35% with sleep!

Even if you don’t make a single other change to your diet or lifestyle, ensuring that you get seven to eight hours of sleep nightly could send your stroke risk plunging 35% in one month, research in the journal Neurology suggests. Sleep is your body’s prime time to repair any brain blood vessels that are aging or worn, explains study coauthor Claudio Bassetti, M.D. Tip: Have trouble sleeping through the night? Wearing foam earplugs could reduce your risk of frustrating middle- of- the- night awakenings 35% or more, say British researchers.

✓ 53% with H2O!

Simply knocking one soda (sweetened or sugar-free) out of your daily diet—and replacing it with 16 oz. of water— reduces your risk of a stroke 53%! According to Loma Linda University scientists, soda contains chemicals that can make blood sticky and more likely to clot. Plain water does the opposite—it thins blood, reducing the risk of clots forming. Tip: Make plain water extra-refreshing by adding a splash of unsweetened orange, cranberry or purple grape juice or a few slices of fresh lemon or lime.

✓ 67% with gardening

No matter how healthy you are right now, puttering around for an hour each day in your garden (or engaging in another pleasant activity) could slash your stroke risk as much as 67%. As Mayo Clinic researchers explain, physical activity sends more nutrient-rich blood to your brain, while also helping to prevent (and treat!) artery- damaging high blood pressure, a major risk factor for stroke.