Thrive has launched a new publication which will help stroke survivors who require rehabilitation after leaving hospital. (To download as a PDF please click on the link at the bottom of the page).
Growing Food for Hearts and Minds is a step by step pictorial and written guide showing how growing your own food can help in the rehabilitation process for stroke survivors.
There are 12 different types of fruit and vegetables featured in the guide that can be easily grown indoors or outdoors and will particularly benefit people recovering after a stroke.
The guide shows how to sow seeds and plant out, and every fruit and vegetable featured comes with a list of the added benefits to support the rehabilitation process.
For example, growing beetroot helps to regulate heartbeat, maintain blood pressure and improve the immune system; strawberries help to relieve joint pain, regulate serotin and blood flow, help build a strong immune system and are an excellent source of vitamin C.
Fresh herbs too are easy to grow. Some of the benefits of parsley include building a resistance to infections and it is one of the most nutritious herbs, whilst chives can stimulate and aid digestion.
The guide also features recommendations for people who have aphasia - a condition which causes either partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally or using written words, which can occur as a result of a stroke.
Thrive’s Chief Executive Nicci Carruthers, said: "Each year 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke which is a leading cause of severe adult disability.
"Unfortunately rehabilitation units can struggle to cope with the demand for care after hospital and Government data also shows that around half of the people who experience a stroke receive the necessary level of rehabilitation to meet their needs in the first six months following discharge from hospital.
"However a third of those recovering have an interest in gardening which can be harnessed to help them recover."
In 2008 Thrive published Gardening for Heart and Minds which received great feedback, including 90 per cent reporting that the guide had improved their knowledge about choice of rehabilitation activities for patients.
Growing Food for Hearts and Minds takes this resource to the next level and is tailored to meet the needs of people affected by stroke interested in growing their own food
Nicci added: "This guide allows people to take charge of their own rehabilitation processes, working at their own pace through a variety of easy gardening tasks.
"Growing your own food can be very satisfying and helps to make us feel more self-sufficient – something many stroke survivors find very motivating.
"Making minor changes in your eating habits can lead to major changes in your health."
Thrive has produced 3,500 copies of the guides which will be distributed to stroke clubs and rehabilitation units who contact us. Each beneficiary will also be offered a free starter pack of seeds and compost.
Thrive hopes that initially around 10,500 people will benefit from this guide either directly or indirectly through their stroke club or rehabilitation unit.
The guide is now available to download for free
here.Or anyone interested in the guide being sent to them should contact Gill Bailey on 0118 988 5688 or email
info@thrive.org.uk The Growing Food for Hearts and Minds guide has received a fantastic response. If you have requested a guide please be assured that your order is being processed, but it is taking up to three weeks for orders to be fulfilled.