The DASH diet isn't only about a reduction in salt intake, but also a therapeutic eating approach in the management of blood cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and weight. Learn More
DASH Eating Plan
based on a 2,000 calorie dietFood Group | Daily Servings |
---|---|
Grains | 6-8 |
Vegetables | 4-5 |
Fruits | 4-5 |
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products | 2-3 |
Meats, poultry, fish | 6 or less |
Nuts, seeds, dry beans and peas | 4-5/week |
Fats and oils | 2-3 |
Sweets | 5 or less/week |
What is the DASH Diet Eating Plan
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension which is a diet based on clinical studies. The research and science-backed plan is less likely about eating in small portions but more of a balanced eating plan for a healthy lifestyle. The diet was developed having the purpose of establishing a food-based strategy that lowers blood pressure and eventually allow a reduction on full reliance of chemical substances. It has since helped many people not only be able to control blood pressure, but reduce their risks of other related illnesses.
Instead of using special diet foods, DASH sets forth daily nutritional goals targeting specific amount of calories a day. It also promotes the involvement of the right amount of nutrients in food that can lower blood pressure. The DASH diet has been evolving over the years as new nutrition research emerges and expected to only keep improving with new information.
The DASH meal plan recommends the following:
- Intake of nuts, beans, fish, poultry, vegetable oils, fish, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.
- Intake of fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.
- Limited intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets.
- Limited sodium consumption.
Who Should Follow The DASH Diet?
It comes as no surprise that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend the DASH diet eating plan to everyone, — from children to senior adults. This clearly suggests that it's never too late to get started with the DASH diet.
Compared to many other diet plans, the DASH diet has been clinically proven to effectively deliver desirable results in helping people who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high insulin sensitivity. New research has shown that it can even help keep children grow up easily maintaining normal blood pressure levels.
While it was not originally developed for weight loss, the DASH diet is also very effective as a healthy weight-loss plan. It can be ideal for people who are into losing weight without the typically-excessive and under-pressure dieting. Also, since it does not require purchasing any sort of branded supplements (which can be expensive), it is perfect for people on a budget.
Daily Calorie Needs for Women:
Age (years) | Sedentary Lifestyle | Moderately Active | Active Lifestyle |
---|---|---|---|
19–30 | 2,000 | 2,000–2,200 | 2,400 |
31–50 | 1,800 | 2,000 | 2,200 |
51+ | 1,600 | 1,800 | 2,000–2,200 |
Daily Calorie Needs for Men:
Age (years) | Sedentary Lifestyle | Moderately Active | Active Lifestyle |
---|---|---|---|
19–30 | 2,400 | 2,600–2,800 | 3,000 |
31–50 | 2,200 | 2,400–2,600 | 2,800–3,000 |
51+ | 2,000 | 2,200–2,400 | 2,400–2,800 |
Objectives
It is clear that the DASH diet's primary goal is to improve overall nutrition quality. Nevertheless, since the DASH diet eating plan was originally created to help individuals with high blood pressure, it is reasonable to say that the main objective is to help people prevent and control high blood pressure.
Due to the fact that it follows specific standards and new information, it aims to provide a balanced diet following measurable portion sizes that adhere to reputable health organizations and studies. The diet's exact objective/s for the individual may change for every person, depending on their health needs. Nonetheless, helping people improve their health remains to be the main goal.
How Should The DASH Diet Plan Work?
The DASH diet works based on servings from different food groups. It calls for a specific amount of calorie intake, and the amount depends on the person's age and the number of calories that they burn in a day. The diet provides a graph with different food group serving numbers, and a person should consume the number of servings indicated under their calorie segment. In addition to following the DASH diet's proportioned meals, people are also encouraged to be physically active, avoid alcohol and get plenty enough of sleep.
DASH Diet Nutrition
Due to the fact that the DASH diet is cemented around the idea of lowering blood pressure, it focuses on nutrients that help do so, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. These nutrients can be found in every-day foods such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and other food groups. Based on the DASH diet, people should consume the highest number of servings from the grains food group and very little fat. Overall, the DASH diet eating plan is well-rounded in its nutrition guidelines and an excellent diet program for everyone.