We've spoken many times about the health benefits of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). But how do you choose a genuinely good one and keep it fresh? Why does this matter? Extra-virgin olive oil is an important part of the Mediterranean diet, which has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Choosing a good-quality olive oil and storing it properly can help preserve its flavour and the natural compounds that may provide health benefits. When buying olive oil, look for: • 🏷️ Extra virgin" on the label. Extra-virgin olive oil is made by pressing olives without using chemicals. This helps keep its natural flavour and nutrients. • 📅 A recent harvest date. Unlike wine, olive oil does not improve with age. Its flavour fades and its beneficial polyphenols (antioxidants) gradually break down. Look for "harvest date", "harvested" or "crop year", rather than relying only on the best-before date. • 🫙Dark glass or a tin. Light can gradually damage the oil and reduce some of its beneficial compounds. Dark glass and tins help protect the oil. • 🌍Clear information about its origin. Check where the olives were grown and where the oil was produced, not just where it was bottled. Some producers include a QR code that provides information about the oil's harvest date, origin, producer and, occasionally, laboratory results. This can improve traceability, although a QR code alone does not guarantee quality. • 📦 A practical container size. Choose an amount you can finish within a few months. A large container is not economical if the oil remains open and exposed to oxygen for too long. • 💧Filtered oil for longer storage. Unfiltered olive oil can be delicious when it is very fresh, but excess moisture and sediment may cause it to deteriorate more quickly. If you choose an unfiltered oil, use it promptly. Price and attractive packaging do not always guarantee quality. Words such as "pure" and "light" do not mean that the oil is fresher or healthier. "Light" refers to a milder flavour and colour, not fewer calories.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm hoping some of you might be willing to help me with something that's very close to my heart. I'm looking for volunteers who would be happy to spend around 30 minutes chatting with me, either on Teams or over the phone, about your experiences following a stroke. *Why am I asking? Having worked in stroke medicine for many years, I know how much of a difference good care and support can make. But I also know that, despite the dedication of so many NHS staff, stroke services don't always provide everything that survivors and their families need. Sometimes that's because of limited resources. Sometimes it's because we, as healthcare professionals, haven't spent enough time really listening to people who've experienced a stroke and understanding what matters most to them. I want to help change that. But first, I need to listen. I've already had the chance to chat with one or two of you in detail and several fo you have replied to my prior post asking about what you needed after a stroke. This time I want to use the time for the conversation to go a little deeper. I'd love to understand more about your experiences, including: - How did you and your family feel in the days, weeks and months following your stroke? - What were your biggest worries, questions or frustrations? - What information or support did you need but struggle to find? - Where did you turn for answers? - Looking back, what could have made your journey a little easier? There's no right or wrong answer, and I'm not looking for anyone to share anything they feel uncomfortable discussing. Your experiences, whatever they may be, are what matter. *What am I hoping to achieve? My ambition is to make life after stroke a little less frightening, confusing and overwhelming. I want future stroke survivors and their families to be able to find clear, trustworthy information, practical advice and meaningful support without having to spend hours searching or feeling that they're facing everything alone.

Hi everyone, After listening to all of your feedback and all of our meetings over the last year or so we have broadened our understanding of what Stroke-Proof is about and come to see that we need to go much further than just prevention. Maggie and I are keen to write Stroke-Proof the book as a guide for Stroke survivors to help navigate the situation they find themselves in post stroke, but we need your help to get it right. We will be pulling in other professionals to help us write this and we'll need you all to tell us if what we are writing is helpful, but firstly we need to make sure we cover the correct areas. After reflecting on all that we have learned from you the below are our proposed chapters. Please let me know if these look right to you or if you think we should add or remove any sections or change the order. Part 1: The Beginning of Recovery 1. A Message of Hope - Recovery is possible - The brain can adapt and rewire - Progress often continues for months and years - Setting realistic expectations - Finding purpose after stroke 2. You're Not Alone - Stroke survivor stories - Different ages and stroke types - Lessons learned from recovery - Common emotional experiences 3. Finding Support - Stroke Association - Different Strokes - Stroke Proof - Online communities - Family and carers - When and where to seek help Part 2: Understanding What Happened 4. What Is a Stroke? - Ischaemic vs haemorrhagic stroke - TIA - What happens inside the brain - Areas of the brain and how they impact symptoms in stroke - Why symptoms vary between individuals - Dementia - the other major brain health condition  5. Tests and Investigations - CT brain - CT angiography - CT perfusion - MRI - Carotid ultrasound - Echocardiogram - Heart rhythm monitoring - Blood tests - What doctors are looking for 6. Why Did My Stroke Happen? - Causes of stroke - Blocked arteries - Atrial fibrillation - Small vessel disease - Rare causes - When no cause is found

Dear wonderful Stroke-Proof members, A key part of the Stroke-Proof community and the future book will be sharing stroke survivors stories. I hope these stories will provide hope to other stroke survivors. Especially those who have recently had a stroke and might be wondering what the future holds in store for them. I also hope it will be a useful opportunity for you to reflect on your journey. If you want to do so please use this thread to share your story, but remember there is no pressure to do so. If you could please also confirm whether you are happy for your story to be shared in the book and in other materials for Stroke survivors and if we do so whether you would prefer to remain anonymised. If you woud like to share your story in here but to remain anonymous you can do so by direct messaging me and I will then copy and paste what you send me into the chat. I would highly recommend writing whatever you want to say in a word document and then copy and pasteing it into here as I know some people have lost entries in here that didn't save properly. I hope you have a happy Friday!

Sorry Got a bit overwhelmed then and pressed the leave button Well done @maggie. It’s not easy presenting in teams