DASH to Good Health!
by Debbie Woelfel, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator
In a world focused on dieting and eliminating foods, wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find a diet that would encourage eating?
Good news! We found one that does. According to U.S. News and World Report, the DASH - Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension - diet ranked "best overall" for the 8th year in a row. Every year, the magazine's panel of health experts reviews diets and rates them. To get a top rating, the diet must be easy to follow, nutritious, safe, effective for weight loss and protective against diabetes and heart disease (1). How ironic that with all the diets out there this one seems to get missed year after year.
The DASH diet is low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. It is rich in fruits, vegetables and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. While the diet was developed to lower blood pressure, it has also been found to be effective in lowering cholesterol and promoting weight loss. Following the DASH diet while restricting sodium can help to lower blood pressure. In fact, it has been proven to be as effective as some of the blood pressure medications that doctors commonly prescribe.
The DASH diet is not a fad diet, but a lifestyle change. It encourages 6-8 servings of whole grains per day plus 4-5 servings of fruits AND vegetables per day in addition to low-fat dairy and lean protein options. Looking for more information? Call us and we will teach you this healthy eating style or click this link for more information.
(1) NHLBI NEWS|News Release 1/3/2018