Positive Health Online

Abstract

MOST, FADA, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4124, USA, mostmm@pbrc.edu, has examined the phytochemical content of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Abstract: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure and reduces fat levels in the blood. The diet was designed to obtain beneficial levels of fibre, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It contains more fruit, vegetables and whole grains than conventional diets. In this study, the food contents of polyphenol, carotenoids, and phytosterols were estimated. It was found that the DASH diet is higher in flavonols, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, luteinzeaxanthin, and phytosterols. Isoflavones are present in a small amount in the DASH diet. The roles of all these compounds in reducing hypertension are becoming recognized. It therefore seems possible that the DASH diet is effective due to its content of these chemicals, and that its benefits might extend beyond the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk.

Background

Methodology

Results

Conclusion

References

Most MM. Estimated phytochemical content of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet is higher than in the Control Study diet. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 104 (11): 1725- 1727, Nov 2004.

Comment

It is probably too much to hope for that medical doctors would now start to prescribe diets such as the above for heart and blood pressure problems, rather than statins, beta-blockers and open heart surgery.