Lower blood pressure is only a dash away

(September 30, 2002)

Dietitians at Alberta Milk today are sharing valuable tips on preventing high blood pressure through their newly created, free resource, DASH to Good Health. This resource is based on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet, a specially designed diet rich in fruits, vegetables and milk products that is proven to control high blood pressure."The DASH diet is welcome news to Albertans battling high blood pressure," says Lee Finell, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator. "It allows people to reduce medications, which may cause side effects, while allowing them to continue eating their favourite foods. Alberta Milk's DASH to Good Health booklet is full of tips on following the DASH Diet and includes several tasty and easy-to-make recipes."  Based on recent findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the DASH Diet encourages people to eat more vegetables, fruits and milk products, which contain potassium, magnesium and calcium. A DASH trial that studied the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure showed these key nutrients lowered blood pressure levels significantly. Research found that a combination diet enriched with milk products, vegetables and fruits was twice as effective at lowering blood pressure as the diet enriched with only fruits and vegetables.  "The DASH Diet works for men and women of all ages and races, including pregnant women, " says Finell. "The best part is that you don't need to cut out the foods that you love to eat. You can follow the DASH Diet at home, at work or when dining out."  Unlike other diets, the DASH Diet works because it is easy to follow. It's a simple shift in the way people eat. Consume 3-4 daily servings of milk products and 8-10 daily servings of vegetables and fruits in addition to the normally recommended daily servings of grain products and meat and alternatives by Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating.

Learn more about the DASH initiative by visiting www.albertamilk.com