Saturday 30 May 2015

The DASH Diet to lower high blood pressure

The Heart and Stroke Foundation encourages Canadians to eat a healthy diet, control salt intake, and be physically active to lower blood pressure. The latest results from the DASH study – Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension – has confirmed these recommendations, providing more encouragement for people to choose a healthier diet. Research has shown that following a plan for healthy eating can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure and lower already elevated blood pressure.

What are the DASH studies?

The DASH Diet is based on two studies, DASH and DASH-Sodium, that looked at ways of reducing blood pressure through changes in diet. In the DASH study, people were given one of three eating plans: a plan similar in nutrients to what most North Americans eat; the same plan but with extra vegetables and fruit; or the DASH diet, which is rich in vegetables, fruit and low-fat dairy foods and lower in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol.

The results were compelling. The diet higher in vegetables and fruit and the DASH diet both reduced blood pressure. The DASH diet had the greatest effect on blood pressure, lowering levels within two weeks of starting the plan. Not only was blood pressure reduced, but total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad cholesterol" were lower, too.

In the DASH-Sodium study, participants were given one of three sodium plans: the DASH diet with 3,300 mg of sodium per day (a normal amount for many North Americans); 2,300 mg of sodium (a moderately restricted amount); or 1,500 mg of sodium (a more restricted amount, about 2/3 of a teaspoon of salt). Blood pressure was lower for everyone on the DASH diet. However, the less salt people consumed, the greater the decrease in blood pressure. People who already had high blood pressure had the largest decrease in blood pressure.

Source :.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3862329/k.4F4/Healthy_living__The_DASH_Diet_to_lower_blood_pressure.htm

Aim to eat a diet that's rich in:

    Fruits
    Vegetables
    Whole-grain, high-fiber foods
    Fat-free and low-fat or 1 percent dairy products
    Beans
    Skinless poultry and lean meats
    Fish, especially fatty fish contain omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon, trout and herring (eat at least twice a week)

...And low in:

    Saturated and trans fats
    Sodium

And limit:

    Added sugars

Be sure to work with the chefs in your household and plan together for any dietary changes that are needed. When dining out, look for healthy options.

Source : heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Managing-Blood-Pressure-with-a-Heart-Healthy-Diet_UCM_301879_Article.jsp

No comments:

Post a Comment