Home > Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension
By Kristi Patrice Carter
Being diagnosed with hypertension can be an eye-opening experience. You know that you must make some changes in order to live a healthier life, but what changes do you need to make? You know you need to lower your blood pressure, but how can that be done? Do you really need to take prescription medication in order to control your hypertension and lower your blood pressure?
Many people successful control their hypertension through dietary changes and regular exercise. Perhaps the most effective diet used to control hypertension is the DASH diet. This diet was created by a nutritionist who was diagnosed with high blood pressure. She designed this diet plan in order to improve her own blood pressure. To date, she has lowered her blood pressure to 110/70 through a combination of diet and exercise.
The DASH diet is approved for use by The American Heart Association and follows the 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans. It is so successful, in fact, that it is the diet most recommended by doctors and nutritionists in order to control hypertension. The DASH diet is low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol, which all negatively impact blood pressure. The diet is designed to ease the patient into a healthier lifestyle. It is not a temporary diet used until your doctor is happy with your blood pressure. Rather, it is a permanent change that you will need to make for a life time.
There are several other diets designed to control high blood pressure. When considering a dietary approach to stop hypertension, you will need to know what characteristics to look for in a diet. Your new diet will need to be low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol. All of these elevate high blood pressure and lead to other complications. Your diet will also need to provide high fiber through fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. When you are considering a diet, it is essential that the diet includes three healthy meals, and a snack per day. This will ensure that you will not be hungry and will stick to the diet. This is the reason why most diets fail.
Whatever diet you choose, it is important to exercise while on your diet. This will help you lose weight and control your high blood pressure. Exercise paired with diet will help you maintain a healthy life.
Before adopting any diet, consult your doctor before making any final decisions. This will help you find the diet that best suits your needs.
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