Follow The DASH Diet To Prevent High Blood Pressure

Can you guess which diet is ranked best out of 29 diets? Our guess is probably not. Unless you have high blood pressure, you may not have even heard of it. It's called the DASH diet. It's a dietary approach meant to prevent high blood pressure, which involves cutting back on sodium and eating foods high in nutrients like potassium, calcium, and magnesium that help lower blood pressure.

On the DASH diet, your blood pressure could drop by a few points in just two weeks, and over time, your systolic blood pressure could drop by as much as 12 points.

Nutrient-rich foods eaten on the DASH diet — a diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat — include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products as well as some fish, poultry, and legumes. Red meat, sweets, and fats are recommended in small amounts.

In addition to lowering blood pressure, the DASH diet helps prevent osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. And although it's not intended to be a weight-loss program, you could lose a few pounds just by eating healthier.

It's no wonder it was ranked number one.