The DASH diet is more than the average weight loss diet or regimen. It is a healthy lifestyle that is designed to improve your health, fight high blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and slow the progression of kidney disease and diabetes. Notice that I said it is a lifestyle. This is because, unlike the popular dieting styles, Dash incorporates a healthy eating habit that includes fruits and vegetables, low and non-fat dairy, nuts, poultry, lean meat, fish, and whole grains. For the 5th year in a row, the Dash diet has been awarded the Best Diet, Healthiest Diet, and Best Diet for Diabetes, by the panel from US News and World Report.
From the choice of foods listed, it is obvious that the Dash diet aims for a lifestyle change that is healthy and wholesome. The number one fear a lot of people have when starting a diet is having to give up foods that they love. In the Dash diet, you are simply substituting unhealthy food with healthy and nutritious ones. While the Dash diet is best incorporated into a meal plan, it comes in two varieties: the Dash diet for weight loss and the Dash diet for health.
The Dash Diet for Weight Loss
This is specifically for people looking to shed some weight. It is a meal plan that includes lots of fruits and vegetable, as well as whole grains. So there is no need to starve yourself or go on water or fruits alone. The whole grains and vegetables keep you full, while serving as healthy substitutes for fat and carbohydrates.
The Dash Diet for Health
Ultimately, the most important decision we can make for our health, is to take care of our bodies by watching what goes into it. Major studies point to unhealthy eating as the culprit for the increased rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure in recent times.
The Dash diet for weight loss is good for people with hypertension, obesity, or high blood pressure. If you have pre-existing conditions, ensure you a talk with your doctor before starting any diet regimen.
To commence on the Dash diet, visit the Diet page to select your choice of meal plans and discover creative ways of cooking suggested foods to improve your health and to change your eating habits.
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About the Author: Amina Salau is a writer and editor running The Illuminated Pen. You can find her online at www.theilluminatedpen.com and on Twitter (@_Aminah)