Intro: I’m Asia Chandler and it’s time for Ask a Scientist. I’m talking with Dr. Alison Brown with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at NIH about the DASH eating plan, or the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. 
 
AC: Dr. Brown, is there science behind an eating plan like DASH? Or is it just a fad? 
 
AB: Research consistently shows it has health benefits, particularly lowering blood pressure and preventing heart disease. 

AC: How does this type of scientific research work? 
 
AB: The original DASH study included over 450 adults randomly placed into three different groups. And after being on the diet for two months, those on the DASH eating plan lowered their  
blood pressure more than the other groups. And the diet was particularly shown to be most  
effective among those with high blood pressure as well as African Americans in this study. 

AC: And why is that so important? 
 
AB: This is important because high blood pressure is considered the silent killer and is highest among African Americans communities across the United States. 

Outro: For more information about the DASH eating plan visit nhlbi.nih.gov.