If you have not heard the sad news today, former 90210 star, Luke Perry has passed away from what medical experts say was a MASSIVE stroke. He will be greatly missed!

In Luke’s honor, I am dedicating this nutrition post to helping educate the world on natural ways to prevent a stroke.

Signs of a stroke include:

weakness on one side of the body

numbness of the face

unusual and severe headache

vision loss

numbness and tingling

unsteady walk

Too many people ignore the signs of stroke because they question whether their symptoms are real. My recommendation is, don't wait if you have any unusual symptoms! Listen to your body and trust your instincts. If something is off, get professional help right away.

Here are three natural tips to help your body avoiding a stroke:

1. Exercise more

Exercise contributes to losing weight and lowering blood pressure, but it also stands on its own as an independent stroke reducer.

Your goal: Exercise at a moderate intensity at least five days a week.

How to achieve it:

Take a walk around your neighborhood every morning after breakfast.

Start a fitness club with friends.

When you exercise, reach the level at which you're breathing hard, but you can still talk.

Take the stairs instead of an elevator when you can.

If you don't have 30 consecutive minutes to exercise, break it up into 10- to 15-minute sessions a few times each day.

2. Lose weight

Obesity, as well as the complications linked to it (including high blood pressure and diabetes), raises your odds of having a stroke. If you're overweight, losing as little as 10 pounds can have a real impact on your stroke risk.

Your goal: While an ideal body mass index (BMI) is 25 or less, that may not be realistic for you. Work with your nutritionist to create a personal weight loss strategy that will work for your body.

How to achieve it: Try to eat more fresh organic vegetables and fruits, lean proteins and healthy fats daily. In addition, remove toxic foods that can cause weight gain such as processed foods, junk food and fast foods.

3. Quit smoking

Smoking accelerates clot formation in a couple of different ways. It thickens your blood, and it increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries. Along with a healthy eating and regular exercise, smoking cessation is one of the most powerful lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your stroke risk significantly!

Your goal: Quit smoking.

How to achieve it: Ask your medical professional for advice and don't give up. Most smokers need several tries to quit. See each attempt as bringing you one step closer to successfully beating the habit.

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