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Diet

The DASH Diet Speeds Weight Loss and Lowers Blood Pressure — If You Do It Right

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What is the DASH diet? You’ve probably seen this eating plan mentioned here and there many times over the years. But because it’s been around for a while and isn’t exactly “trendy” like other diets, you might not know as many details about DASH. If that sounds like you, then you might be missing out on one of the most sensible eating plans around.

What is the DASH diet?

The DASH diet is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. As you can probably guess, this eating plan was originally developed to help people lower their blood pressure. But it can do a whole lot more than that: The DASH diet has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity. Studies have also suggested that following a DASH diet plan can reduce the risk of serious health issues such as stroke, kidney stones, and diabetes. It’s no wonder why so many doctors recommend the DASH diet to their patients and why the plan has been ranked as the “best overall diet” by US News & World Reports for eight years in a row.

The DASH diet has sometimes even been described as an Americanized version of the famous Mediterranean diet, according to the official DASH diet website. But as healthy as the DASH diet is, it’s certainly not restrictive. It includes an eating plan rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat and nonfat dairy, lean meats, fish, poultry, nuts, beans, seeds, heart-healthy fats, and limited amounts of whole grains. These delicious and nutritious foods join forces together to help your overall health improve. An added perk? You can also shed some unwanted pounds on the DASH diet — especially if you follow the DASH Diet Weight-Loss Solution plan.

How to Do the Dash Diet for Weight Loss

According to the official DASH Diet Weight Loss Solution page, this eating plan actually turbocharges the original DASH diet by further reducing added sugars, refined grains, and heavily-processed foods. It also includes some specific guidelines for weight loss, such as making colorful vegetables the center of your meals and adding fresh fruits to your plate whenever you get a craving for sweets.

Unlike other weight-loss plans, the DASH Diet Weight-Loss Solution plan does not involve counting calories. Even better? Thanks to the book The Dash Diet Weight Loss Solution: 2 Weeks to Drop Pounds, Boost Metabolism, and Get Healthy ($14.27, Amazon), all the hard work has basically been done for you. The plan comes with 28 days of meal plans and more than 45 recipes you can make. Accompanying this plan is the cookbook The Everyday DASH Diet Cookbook: Over 150 Fresh and Delicious Recipes to Speed Weight Loss, Lower Blood Pressure, and Prevent Diabetes ($15.29, Amazon), which is there to give you a helping hand along the way if you’re stumped on recipes.

Whenever you’re ready to DASH your way to a healthier lifestyle, the diet is ready for you!

Next, learn about the tastiest foods that can help you live longer in the video below:

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