Plate with heart healthy food: red snapper with zesty tomato sauce and yogurt with fruit on the side
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NIH researcher available to discuss DASH eating plan for lowering blood pressure

Studies show heart-healthy eating plan works for prevention, treatment

Plate with heart healthy food: red snapper with zesty tomato sauce and yogurt with fruit on the side
This photo of baked red snapper with zesty tomato sauce represents one of the many delicious and heart-healthy recipes that are part of the DASH eating plan.

WHAT: May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month and a nutrition researcher with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be available to discuss the DASH eating plan, which has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure. The researcher also will discuss new, user-friendly consumer materials that encourage more people to follow this heart-healthy diet.

Developed more than 20 years ago through research by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the NIH, the DASH—Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension—eating plan emphasizes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and includes fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and healthy oils. It focuses on reducing sodium and limits foods that are high in saturated fat—including fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils—as well as limiting sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages. The eating plan is aimed, in part, at helping the 1 in 3 Americans with high blood pressure, or hypertension, a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. 

To make it easier for consumers to follow the plan, the NHLBI has developed new materials that include tips on reducing salt and sodium when dining out or cooking at home and on gradually making the move to DASH. The materials feature new food photography, a more conversational tone, and an updated look and feel, and they include more than 100 heart-healthy recipes adapted from a diverse array of cuisines, including Native American, Latino, Asian, and African-American food traditions. In addition to these materials, the NHLBI also provides information on why the DASH eating plan works, a worksheet for assessing current food habits, and website content that encourages people to try new foods and learn how to make old favorites heart-healthy.

WHO: Holly Nicastro, Ph.D., MPH, Program Director, Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

LINK:  https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/dash-eating-plan

CONTACT

nhlbi_news@nhlbi.nih.gov

301-496-5449

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Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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