Simply switching to a healthy, plant-based diet can lessen stroke risk by reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, flooding your body with antioxidants and improving blood flow.

If you consume too much salt, it can cause water retention. When this happens, your body usually responds by raising your blood pressure to push excess fluid and salt out of your system.

Your pantry is your first line of defense against food-borne illness and things like high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Many people assume the diseases that kill us are pre-programmed into our genes. High blood pressure by 55, heart attacks at 60, maybe cancer at 70, and so on... But for most of the leading causes of death, our genes usually account for only 10-20 per cent of risk.

A diet high in fruits and vegetables has been shown to lower blood pressure and lower the risk of stroke and certain cancers.

I don't think people realise how important it is to have your blood pressure checked. Stroke is so sudden, so catastrophic.