Elton's Stroke Story
In briefAI summary — tap to read
Elton Sherwin, a Rotary club member and podcast producer, shares his personal stroke recovery story and what he learned about preventing cardiovascular disease. He emphasizes the critical importance of recognizing stroke symptoms (BEFAST) and seeking immediate emergency care, as well as managing cholesterol through diet and medication to prevent future strokes and heart disease.
Key takeaways
- Recognize stroke warning signs (balance problems, eye issues, face drooping, arm/leg weakness, slurred speech) and call 911 immediately—time is critical for effective treatment.
- Get your LDL (bad) cholesterol below 70 through diet changes, statins, or other medications; Elton lowered his from 123 to 55 through a plant-based diet.
- Adopt a plant-centered diet with 95% plant foods and no more than 5% animal products, focusing on fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains, and minimal salt.
- Use practical tools like the Daily Dozen app, the book How Not to Die, and programs like those at Cleveland Clinic or Dr. Ornish to reverse heart disease and prevent chronic illness.
- Track three key health numbers annually: blood sugar (A1C) below 5.7, LDL cholesterol under 70, and blood pressure below 170 for optimal long-term health.
About Elton SherwinElton Sherwin is the podcast producer for Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley and has been a Rotarian for over 20 years. He survived a stroke in December 2019 and has since transformed his health through dietary changes and lifestyle modifications.
AI-generated from the meeting recording — AI can make mistakes, so check the recording for anything important.
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Elton Sherwin - Club Member
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Program: Elton's Stroke Story
Speaker: Elton Sherwin
We bring you a new program every week on innovation, entrepreneurship, and education and how they contribute to service to others.
In December 2019, Elton had a stroke. This is the story of how his daughter rushed him to the Stanford ER, his treatment, his recovery, his subsequent quest to identify the cause of his stroke, and how to prevent another one.
Sometimes an event, a moment in time, changes your world, and you become an expert in something that you had never paid much attention to. This stroke was one such moment in time. Hopefully, what he learned subsequently can help others and their loved ones.
Our speaker, Elton Sherwin, is the author of two books: "The Silicon Valley Way," originally titled, "The 45-Second Business Plan," and "Addicted to Energy, A Venture Capitalist's Perspective on How to Save Our Economy and Our Climate."
Prior to working as a venture capitalist Elton worked for Motorola and IBM. Elton is an alumnus of the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a Rotarian since 1999 and joined the eClub of Silicon Valley in 2023. He currently serves as the club’s podcast producer.
Members and guests, please welcome Elton Sherwin!
To learn more, go to:
Links to books and organizations mentioned in the presentation:
"How Not to Die," by Dr. Michael Greger: https://a.co/d/bLAZx7z
"Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases" by Dr. Dean Ornish: https://a.co/d/bQ2kzEx
"Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease," by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr.: https://a.co/d/16pLj0e
Cleveland Clinic’s Heart Disease Reversal Program: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/wellness/integrative/esselstyn-program
Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease: https://ornish.com/
Betr Health: https://betrhealth.com
Dr. Michael Greger’s Green light, yellow light, red light food list: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/dining-by-traffic-light-green-is-for-go-red-is-for-stop
DailyDozen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tOdfgO31RA&vl=en
Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Talk, "My Stroke of Insight" https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_my_stroke_of_insight
To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:
http://rotary.cool
Our Three Podcast Series
Our main program speakers are available as podcasts in addition to YouTube videos! Each week, they are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well as many other platforms.
Our weekly podcast is now called:
Inspiring People — Stories of Innovation and Service
Inspiring Solutions for a Better World
Our original podcast, featuring some of the best of our previous speakers, is still available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and many other platforms.
Inspiring Women: Celebrating Trailblazers
Our newest podcast celebrates trailblazing women. It is available on Spotifyand Apple Podcasts, and many other platforms.
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