How to avoid a stroke

Gym'll fix it

Another reason to pump iron: an eight-year study of 8000 men at Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands found men with high testosterone levels are less likely to suffer strokes. Boost your levels with lunges, squats and dead-lifts for the greatest gains.

Berry your problems

Like puppies and Bond movies, cranberries shouldn't just be for Christmas. According to University of Massachusetts scientists, the wonder fruit protects your grey matter with artery-cleansing flavanoids. For maximum protection, down 250ml of juice a day.

Get a round in

Sounds too good to be true, but Dutch researchers from TNO Nutrition and Food Research in Zeist found men who drank one pint every night substantially reduced their levels of fibrinogen, which contributes to blood clots. The willing subjects also saw their levels of HDL ('good') cholesterol rise. Further research, as if we needed any more encouragement, is continuing to isolate the exact mechanism at work.

Stay indoors

High pollution levels can cause arteries to harden and clots to form, dramatically increasing stroke risk, according to research from Dr Shin Yamazaki of Kyoto University in Japan. His team found mortality rates doubled when pollution levels were highest.

Floss

A foul mouth can really get you in trouble, according to research published in the Journal Of Periodontology. "Bacteria that causes gum disease can set up an immune reaction that attacks your arteries," says study author Dr Michael Roizen. The tell-tale sign is multiple spots in your mouth. Avoid gum disease with daily flossing and plaque removal.

Get your oats

Soluble fibre – found in porridge oats – strips fatty deposits from your arteries, lowering cholesterol and stroke risk. 'Pinhead' or 'steel-cut' oats contain the whole grain for maximum benefits. "Add chopped apple to your porridge," advises nutritionist Ian Marber. "It's rich in pectin, which lowers fat levels in the blood."

Turn shellfish

A US study at Johns Hopkins University found depressed men have higher levels of C-reactive protein, a key stroke-predictor. Get over your boys' ignominious FA Cup exit with the mood-lifting amino acid selenium. You'll find the highest concentrations in shellfish, advises Margaret Rayman from the Centre for Nutrition and Food Safety at Surrey University. Other foods rich in selenium include kidney, liver and avocados.

Breathe easy

It's not just your weary bedmate's life that'll seriously improve if you stop your snoring. University of California research found that men who snore suffer from hardened carotid arteries lining the sides of the neck, blocking the flow of blood to the brain, potentially leading to a massive stroke. The most effective remedy? Sewing a tennis ball into the backs of their night-shirts, the UCLA scientists found. Looks real stylish too.