The main aim of the DASH diet is not to lose weight but to reduce blood pressure. However, it can also help those who want to lose weight, lower cholesterol, and manage or prevent diabetes.
Important aspects include:
portion size
consuming a wide variety of healthful foods
obtaining the proper balance of nutrients
DASH encourages a person to:
eat less sodium (the key ingredient in salt)
increase their intake of magnesium, calcium, and potassium
These strategies help lower blood pressure.
DASH is not a vegetarian diet, but it adds more fruits and vegetables, low or nonfat dairy foods, beans, nuts, and other nutritious items.
It provides suggestions about healthful alternatives to “junk food” and encourages people to avoid processed foods.
Your guide to lowering your blood pressure with DASHTrusted Source, published by the NIH, provides useful information on how to switch to the DASH diet. It also gives samples of meal plans and their nutritional values.
