Transition from American Heart Month to National Nutrition Month(r) with The DASH Diet
Whether you want to prevent heart disease, lower your blood pressure, increase your energy level or attain those weight loss goals from New Year’s, right now is the perfect time to take control of your health. With February-American Heart Month-just ending and March-National Nutrition Month(r)-blowing in, you have plenty of motivation and support to make positive nutritional changes.
The American Heart Association recommends DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) as a nutritional program all Americans should follow, and it is also featured in the USDA’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the U.S. High Blood Pressure Guidelines.
Not another fad, the DASH Diet was developed by researchers and based on scientifically sound nutritional principles. This eating plan, which is rich in nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy and reduced in red meat, fats, and sweets, been documented to help both women and men effectively lower their blood pressure and cholesterol, maintain a strong, well-functioning heart, lose weight and simply feel better all around.
Typically, dieters will stick with a program for two or three weeks, then give up when it becomes too difficult to maintain. The DASH Diet is easy to adopt as part of a long-term lifestyle. It does not require strict calorie counting, supplementation or the elimination of any food group or category. Rather, it incorporates real foods that are commonly found in any grocery store, allows dieters to choose how they plan to meet their serving goals with foods that they enjoy, and offers simple yet inventive recipes for a change of pace.
The DASH for Health(tm) program, based on the Dash Diet, is designed to help members improve their eating and exercise habits, lose weight sensibly and feel healthier with recipes, fitness tips, online meal tracking and more. In various follow-up studies, people who participated in the online program offered by DASH for Health(tm) were consistently found to have lost weight and lowered their blood pressure significantly. In fact, after only a few weeks, many participants observe that they feel healthier, slimmer and even younger, as a result of the increased energy they experience.
Best of all, by following the program consistently, you’ll enjoy a stronger heart, a slimmer body and a healthier you throughout 2008-and for your entire life!
About The Author:
Thomas Moore, MD, is the founder of the Dash for Health program and the author of the best-selling book: THE DASH DIET FOR HYPERTENSION. He is Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Find out how to lose weight painlessly by claiming a free DASH eating profile at: http://www.DashForHealth.com
Learn to make the right nutritional choices for weight loss, a strong heart and a healthy lifestyle at: http://www.DashForHealth.com
