The dash diet is more of a healthy way of eating rather that a diet. You do not have to buy special diet foods and can get all the foods in your local grocery store. The diet is based on what is good to eat for heart health and being a survivor of cardiac arrest I definitely want to follow a heart healthy plan. The diet limits your intake of sodium and saturated fat which is good for anyone and not just those with heart problems or high blood pressure. It tells you which fats are good fats and which are bad and the plan is easy to follow. You may not lose alot of weight quickly but you will lose it as you are eating foods that are not full of fats or carbohydrates and lean more towards eating more fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. I would recommend this to anyone because even if you are not on a diet , this way of eating is definitely better for your overalll health and well being. You feel so much better when you follow the Dash diet.

lylasmoo

New Egypt, NJ

The biggest disadvantage of the DASH diet is that some of the meals can be difficult to prepare, especially those for dinner. Otherwise, this is a diet plan that everyone should live by. This is not a diet that is designed to make your lose weight, but it certainly adds that benefit once you begin making smart dietary decisions. The DASH diet was originally designed to reduce the amount of sodium, and for people with high blood pressure. the diet involves removing processed foods and other items out of the diet, as well as looking for alternative methods of seasoning your foods. Portion control is also a part of the plan. The diet is recommended by the American Dietary Guidelines and follows a heart healthy eating plan. It has lots of fun meals that can be cooked, but another downside is that some of them can be expensive to purchase since you are looking for healthier selections. Effectiveness Follow This plan and you can reduce or eliminate high blood pressure and improve your overall health. And, the pounds will come off!

agrace03

Nashville, TN

The DASH Diet is not a fad diet or a "lose weight quick diet." It is a medically and scientifically formulated diet for healthy eating and (if applicable) healthy weight loss. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and it is, indeed, a diet plan specifically for individuals with high blood pressure. However, it turns out that this diet is healthy for pretty much anyone, even most diabetics, and is recommended for the general population as well. The DASH Diet does not cut out entire groups of food like some other diets. It does, however, restrict certain things like oils and fats and especially sodium, which is restricted to 2300mg a day. Most Americans will also feel as if the portions of meat are restricted, when really its just that we eat too much meat in this country! Some might find the daily sodium and meat limits as hard to follow, but overall its not a difficult or complicated diet.

sakiko

USA

The dash diet is based on scientific information. The diet does not try to sell you products and does not restrict entire food groups. This is a heart healthy diet which the main focus is to lower blood pressure. The dash diet limits total sodium intake to 2300 milligrams a day with less than seven grams of saturated fat. The diet also promotes healthy fats like oils, peanut butter, and avocado. These foods are higher in poly unsaturated and mono unsaturated fats, which can help lower cholesterol. The diet is easy to follow, and I could follow it for life. The book is incredibly informative, and is from the national institutes of health. The book provides lower sodium recipes which will help lower blood pressure. The best tip in the book is to not add extra salt to food. You can use any other spice. I like using garlic in place of salt on food, but pepper also works well. Overall this is an easy, life style change diet that will improve health. Effectiveness Simple, practical advice, with scientific information that helps lower blood pressure. Side Effects None, it is proven that lower salt intake will lower blood pressure. Ease of Use Its simple if you don't like salt, but more difficult if you love salt. However, using other spices can bring out the flavor of your food.

AndyYurechko

Undisclosed

Great results in two weeks if you follow their guidelines. There are enough food options to make the strictest part of the diet painless. Book makes eating recommendations that allow you to pick up certain items at the deli or grocery salad bar or pre-made section. Effectiveness Has a good kick start plan for the first 2 weeks and it works. Side Effects may need to go to the bathroom a few extra times each day, especially in the first 2 weeks. Ease of Use Easy food choices if you like a small amount of meat and lots of veggies. Fruit is not allowed in the first two weeks

jdlstewart

Kure Beach, NC

The Dash Diet is a very healthy way of eating recommended by many doctors for diabetics, heart patients and a way to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. My problem is that I am a saltaholic and I found it very hard to follow. The food tasted bland to me without salt. It's easy enough to follow by eating real food. Weight loss with it is slower unless you really watch the calories and portions. Effectiveness Weight loss is slow and steady. You have to watch the portion sizes and the calorie counts in the foods you eat. It's great for healthy eating though. The foods are real and natural and you avoid processed items. Side Effects There were no side effects for the plan for me. Ease of Use It's simple enough to prepare plain real foods. Steaming vegetables, cooking proteins, scrambling egg, eating nuts, eating fresh fruit is all easy to do. Planning meals gives you lots of variety in food combinations. It's a little more work to follow the portion sizes and count the calories if you want to lose weight following the plan.

coyotegirl525

USA