Low-fat Dairy, Fruits, Veggies, May Reduce Hypertension
To coincide with National High Blood Pressure Education Month and American Stroke Month, both in May, Dairy Council of California's Meals Matter website features a DASH-friendly cookbook with 31 recipes, one for each day of the month, to naturally help lower the risk and severity of hypertension in adults.
According to various studies, the DASH plan, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, can substantially lower blood pressure in those with mild hypertension. The plan includes three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy per day, along with eight to ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables. This eating pattern is naturally low in saturated and total fat while being high in calcium, potassium and magnesium -- nutrients associated with decreasing the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Add whole grains and physical activity to the DASH pattern and its elements coincide with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Therefore, the DASH pattern is a healthy eating plan for everyone, not just those concerned with high blood pressure or stroke.