Regain a Healthy Heart and Body with the DASH Diet

The DASH diet has been developed and endorsed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health for a great number of years. This unique diet has long been renowned as an exceptional treatment for hypertension. For individuals seeking a healthy heart and body, these helpful tips may make it a little easier to get started understanding the ins and outs of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. In fact, research has proven that the DASH diet can greatly reduce high blood pressure within just a few weeks.

To begin, it should be understood that individuals will need to limit their sodium intake to 2,400 mg each day. In some cases, for a healthy heart and body, this sodium limit may be lowered further depending on your physician’s recommendations. Basics of the DASH diet include increased intake of vegetables and fruits as well as beans and nuts. In addition, it’s recommended that individuals adapt their diets to include only reduced fat dairy foods.

For the most success, fatty and sweet foods, soft drinks, and other junk foods should be restricted while on the DASH diet. A nice thing about this diet is its simplicity and focus on preferred, favorable foods rather than a never-ending list of forbidden foods. By keeping the details simple, the National Institutes of Health hope to improve overall adoption of this life-changing diet as a treatment for high blood pressure. It has been proven to be extremely effective as a treatment for high blood pressure and some individuals have even been able to reduce their blood pressure to levels that other patients have achieved through the use of leading medications.

Maintaining a healthy heart and body doesn’t have to be a complex, scientific process. By returning to the basic food groups and making some healthier exchanges, it’s easy to get on the path to a healthier lifestyle. These changes need not be immediate for benefits to be experienced. Often, doctors recommend slowly adapting to the diet by exchanging unfavorable foods for healthier items to effect a more gradual change to an individual’s diet.

In addition to changing the way a person eats over time, the DASH diet also suggests implementing a routine for regular physical activity. This includes walking, aerobics, boxing, or just about any other kind of physical activity that can be imagined. For the best success rate, it is highly recommended that individuals exercise a minimum of 30 minutes each day. This can be broken into three, shorter 10-minute sessions of exercise or one 30-minute burst of activity. No matter how you choose to get physical, remaining physically active is a critical component of any treatment for high blood pressure.