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Each year, the DASH diet earns high marks across several categories in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Diets rankings. DASH is designed to help control high blood pressure, but when followed closely it may offer additional benefits, such as:
- Weight management
- Higher levels of HDL (aka “good” cholesterol)
- Lower levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol)
- Improved blood sugar control over time (A1C level)
- Reduced risk of kidney stones
Madhu Challapalli, MD, a cardiologist and internist in New Braunfels, Texas, explains how the DASH diet works and offers simple tips to help you stick with it.
Sources: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institut... + 6
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. DASH Eating Plan. Last updated December 29, 2021.
- American Heart Association. Managing Blood Pressure with a Heart-Healthy Diet. Last Reviewed: October 31, 2016
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. IN BRIEF: Your Guide To Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH. Revised August 2015.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure. May 2003.
- American Heart Association. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. Accessed January 28, 2022.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Kidney Stones. Last Reviewed May 2017.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High Blood Pressure Facts. May 15, 2024.
