Dash Eating Plan

I am not a dietician but for a better quality of life it is important to follow a healthy diet especially as we age. I had hypertension a few years ago and so do many members of my family. My blood pressure is normal now and I attribute that to physical activity and following the Dash diet. Originally the Dash eating plan was developed to manage hypertension. It stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This plan focuses on eating veggies, fruits, low fat dairy. It is higher in whole grains, poultry, seafood and nuts and lower in sodium, red and processed meats, sweets and sugar-containing beverages than our typical American diet. Studies show this eating plan lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, and decreases cardiovascular disease risk (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2015) A very- low sodium Dash eating plan will further reduce blood pressure for people with hypertension or elevated blood pressure. Now there is no such thing as perfection and its ok to occasionally have cheat food if in general our eating habits are healthy and our blood pressure, weight, cholesterol continues to stay normal.