For most of us a healthy lifestyle is usually associated with numerous diets that are so popular today. We try them eagerly in order to improve our health and well-being. If you are looking for a diet that can suit you perfectly, I should say that the DASH diet is a great choice. Furthermore, it was recognized as one of the best diets throughout the world. First of all, let’s clear up the meaning of its name. DASH is an abbreviation used for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The main idea of this diet is to lower our sodium intake. The truth is that we rarely pay much attention to our blood pressure while eating different foods. The DASH diet is a wonderful way to stay healthy that is suitable for all people. Some interesting facts given below will help you to get more information about the DASH diet.
1. What Is the DASH Diet?
The origin of this diet is the first thing we will speak about. This is the way of eating which was primarily aimed to lower blood pressure. A bit later people began to use it as an efficient way to lose weight and to keep fit. Nowadays there are a lot of people who suffer from hypertension or prehypertension and they will be surprised to know that the DASH diet is a nice solution of this problem. Surely, by choosing it you will provide yourself with a healthy lifestyle.
2. Two Versions
If you’ve decided to stick to this eating plan you should keep in mind that it has two versions. One of them is the standard DASH diet which allows you the overall sodium intake up to 2,300 milligrams in a day. If you opt for another version of this diet you’ll have to consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily. Whether you give preference to the first or to the second version of the DASH diet you will equally benefit from it.
3. Foods You Eat
You should remember that fresh vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, whole grains and nuts are the basic foods that should be included into the DASH diet. Make sure that you consume all these products regularly and you will get about 2,000 calories every day. Besides, your body will be supplied with calcium, magnesium and potassium which you need to lower your blood pressure. It is recommended that your daily menu should consist of 4 servings of fruits and vegetables, 6 servings of fish or poultry and 6 servings of whole grains.
4. Foods You Shouldn’t Eat
Those who keep to the DASH diet should be aware of certain foods that can’t be consumed. For example, your intake of sodium, fats, sugars, sugary drinks and alcohol should be limited to minimum dozes. Since caffeine is known to elevate blood pressure, it is advisable for you to remove the foods containing this nutrient from your diet, especially if you have problems with your blood pressure. You’d better consult your doctor about caffeine intake.
5. Weight Loss Version
Without a doubt the advantages of this eating plan are undeniable. No matter which of the two versions of the diet you pick out, anyway you’ll be lucky to lose weight. However, there is one more version of the DASH diet. It was developed by dietitian Marla Heller for overweight people. As the researches show it really works.
6. It Is Not for Hypertension Only
As it was mentioned above this diet focuses mainly on the lowering of blood pressure. Though, it doesn’t mean that the DASH eating plan can’t help you to resist a great number of other diseases. For instance, its role in the protection against heart disease is enormous. Moreover, the DASH diet is a fantastic way to prevent diabetes, cancer, stroke and osteoporosis.
7. Why It Is Considered to Be the Best
On the one hand, this diet is an incredible way to keep your menu balanced and full of wholesome foods. But there are some other things that make it so special and unique. What are they? It is proved that the Dash diet contributes greatly into your heart health and helps to stabilize your blood pressure either. A lot of dietitians advise the DASH diet as the best eating plan of 2014. It can be efficient for people with various problems and specific needs such as a chronic disease or overweight. Finally, this diet will encourage you to lead a healthier lifestyle.
8. It Has No Food Restrictions
Most of diets are created in such way that you usually need to reduce your consumption of certain food groups. As a result, you can feel some discomfort. But when it comes to the DASH diet, you can enjoy the taste of your favorite drinks and foods without any restrictions. Isn’t that amazing? Just be careful with the foods that can be dangerous in excess. The main rule for you is to control your portions and to eat them not so often.
9. Is It The Right Choice for You?
You can be sure that the DASH eating plan is one the healthiest and most effective diets. There are so many things that make it really attractive and worth trying. It’s rather difficult to find any other diet that can be well-balanced and sensible at the same time. If you don’t like all the methods of this diet, try to follow only some of the guidelines. Before doing that you should necessarily consult your doctor.
Nowadays a wide range of healthy diets are available for you. Most of them may seem the most perfect and suitable for you. Though, you shouldn’t make hasty decisions. I would recommend you to research the diet you liked and only after that you can follow it. What facts about the DASH diet do you find most interesting? Would you like to make it your basic eating plan? Give your opinion, please.