Former hotel chairman dies at 55 after brain thrombosis as nutritionist shares six ways to protect blood vessels

Liao Kuo-hung, the former chairman of Taichung Howard Hotel, reportedly died at 55 after suffering seizures on Aug. 15 and being taken to hospital. Doctors removed a brain clot, but reports said bleeding in the brainstem made surgery impossible.

The travel industry reported that Liao remained in intensive care for more than 10 days as doctors tried to save him. Friends expressed shock and sadness at the death of someone they described as young and accomplished.

Against that backdrop, nutritionist Lin Shih-hang, known as Titan, shared six dietary recommendations for protecting the heart and brain and reducing cardiovascular risks. He advised choosing whole grains and unrefined staples such as brown rice, purple rice, sweet potatoes and pumpkin because their fibre can help stabilise blood sugar.

He also recommended two servings of dairy a day for calcium, three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit for fibre, and plant proteins such as edamame, tofu and dried tofu. For other protein, he suggested fish, eggs and lower-fat white meat. Fish provides omega-3 fatty acids, and he recommended more than two servings of fish or shellfish each week.

His final recommendation was to drink enough water, calculated at roughly 30 to 40 millilitres per kilogram of body weight daily, with plain water and unsweetened tea preferred.

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He was so young and accomplished. It is truly heartbreaking and sad.