Salt Reduction Saves Lives The study is called "Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension" (DASH), and researchers have exciting evidence that eating a diet rich in whole grains, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables is just as effective in lowering high blood pressure as commonly-prescribed medications. Exciting indeed when you consider that these medications carry with them dangerous side effects. In the study, 412 participants, 41% of which had high blood pressure, ate either a standard American diet (SAD) that included sugary soft drinks, red meat, and processed foods with added fat and sugar, or the DASH diet which emphasizes whole foods, fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, and nuts. The greatest benefit was seen with participants who restricted sodium intake to 1,500 mg or less and at the natural foods diet, which lowered blood pressure by as much as 11.5 mm Hg and diastolic by 7.1 mm Hg among the hypertensives. Even participants who were not diagnosed with high blood pressure had up to an 8.9 mm Hg drop in systolic and 4.5 mm Hg drop in diastolic pressure. Dr. Sacks, a study spokesperson, said that based on those results, it would be possible to "reduce the prevalence of heart disease by 20% and stroke by 35%." Others study researchers said the "take home message" is to "avoid processed foods because they are so high in sodium." Current sodium guidelines are set at 2,400 mg/day, twice what we probably require. The study results were announced in a recent news conference, and will be published in the fall. C. Hobbs other health news
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