Dash Diet With Low Sodium Intake may Help Lower Hypertension

Usually hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90. Eating a healthier diet with less salt, exercising regularly and taking medication can help lower blood pressure. If you are suffering from hypertension and related problems such as frequent fainting episodes, anxiety and headaches, a low sodium diet may help you recover faster.

A combination of reduced sodium intake along with a 'dash diet' or either of the two diets may lower blood pressure in adults with hypertension, a medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated, suggests a new research.

‘High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Over time, if untreated, it can cause health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Dash diet may lower blood pressure in adults.’

Dash diets emphasises on receiving a proper amount of food and nutrients like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains along with low or fat-free dairy, fish, poultry, beans, seeds and nuts in order to lower the high blood pressure and control hypertension.

The study, led by Stephen Juraschek, researcher at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, US, followed 412 adults with systolic blood pressures put either on low sodium diet or dash diet for four weeks.

The participants were divided into four categories of blood pressure: less than 130 mmHg, between 130 and 139 mmHg, between 140 and 159 mmHg, and 150 or higher mmHg.

Researchers found that the participants who cut their sodium intake or followed the dash diet but did not reduce their sodium intake saw a lower systolic blood pressure.

Also, participants who were on the combined diet plan had low blood pressure compared to participants with high sodium intake eating their regular diet, as mentioned in the paper, presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017, in California.

Source: IANS