Unit2HealthyeatingResearchhasshownthatfollowingahealthyeatingplancanbothreducetheriskofdevelopinghighbloodpressureandloweralreadyelevatedbloodpressure
Foranoveralleatingplan,considertheDASHeatingplan
“DASH”standsfor“DietaryApproachestoStopHypertension”,aclinicalstudythattestedtheeffectsofnutrientsinfoodonbloodpressure
Studyresultsindicatedthatelevatedbloodpressurewasreducedbyaneatingplanthatemphasizesfruits,vegetables,andlowfatdairyfoodsandislowinsaturatedfat,totalfat,andcholesterol
TheDASHeatingplanincludeswholegrains,poultry,fish,andnutsandhasreducedamountoffats,redmeats,sweets,andsugaredbeverages
Asecondclinicalstudy,called“DASHSodium”,lookedattheeffectofareduceddietarysodiumintakeonbloodpressureaspeoplefollowedeithertheDASHeatingplanoratypicalAmericandiet
Resultsshowedthatreducingdieta