Why YOU Should Be On The DASH Diet

Photo Source: NIH

If the nutrition community held the Academy Awards for Healthy Eating Plans, as judged by the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings,  the televised award ceremony would unfold something like this:

Dr. Oz and the President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approach the podium.  Jointly they say, “May I have the envelope, please?”

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Oscar for the Best Overall Diet to follow goes to…”

The DASH Diet. 

Next envelope, please….

"The Oscar for the Best Diabetes Diet to follow goes to…"

The DASH Diet. 

"The Oscar for the overall Best Diet for Healthy Eating to follow goes to…"

The DASH Diet.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet is a runaway winner.

Research has shown that the diet  is a flexible, affordable, and balanced eating plan that can help the 1 out of 3 Americans who currently have high blood pressure,  to lower it just by eating healthy foods that you can get at your local supermarket.  There are no pills and no gimmicks.  The diet was developed by a team of medical researchers who were funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This is extremely good news as a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has uncovered that the earlier you manage your blood pressure in life, the better chance you have for reducing your risk of heart disease decades later.  Click on the video to learn more. 





Because the DASH Diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, nuts and beans and is lower in lean protein foods, sodium, and added sugars, the diet can also be beneficial for those who are trying to better manage their weight, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and lower their risk for heart disease.

There are three steps to the DASH Diet:

1.    Estimate your calorie needs daily
2.    Figure out how many servings from each food group you should be consuming daily to
       healthfully meet your needs.
3.    Logically spread this food intake, in their appropriate portions, throughout the day to fuel your
       body and health. 
 
Click here to find out more about these steps  and how to follow the DASH Diet.  As always, check with your health care provider before changing your diet to make sure it is appropriate for you.

Be well, Joan

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