For more information, visit http://www.nhlbi.nih.

gov/health/health-topics/topics/dash/
What Is the DASH Eating Plan?
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a flexible and balanced eating plan that is based on research studies sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute (NHLBI). These studies showed that DASH lowers high blood pressure and improves levels of blood lipids (fats in the bloodstream), which reduces
the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
DASH requires no special foods and it includes easy-to-follow recipes (for example, browse the Delicious Heart Healthy Recipes from the NHLBI).
The DASH eating plan:
Emphasizes vegetables, fruits, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
Includes whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, nuts, and vegetable oils
Limits sodium, sweets, sugary beverages, and red meats
In terms of nutrition content, DASH is:
Low in saturated and trans fats
Rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and protein
The DASH eating plan is lower in sodium (mostly from salt) than the typical American diet. The DASH research showed that an eating plan containing 2,300
milligrams (mg) of sodium per day lowered blood pressure. An eating plan containing only 1,500 mg of sodium per day even further lowered blood pressure.
The "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010" advises reducing sodium intake to less than 2300 mg per day.
People in the following groups should reduce sodium intake further, to 1,500 mg of sodium per day:
People who already have high blood pressure
People who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease
African Americans
Adults aged 51 and older
Below is a table that shows the daily nutrient goals used in the DASH studies.
Daily Nutrient Goals Used in the DASH Studies (for a 2,000-Calorie Eating Plan)
Total fat 27% of calories
Saturated fat 6% of calories
Protein 18% of calories
Carbohydrate 55% of calories
Cholesterol 150 mg
Sodium 2,300 mg*
Potassium 4,700 mg
Calcium 1,250 mg
Magnesium 500 mg
Fiber 30 g
* 1,500 mg of sodium was a lower goal tested and found to be even better for lowering blood pressure. It worked very well for people who already had high
blood pressure, African Americans, and middle-aged and older adults.
g = grams; mg = milligrams
For more detailed information about the DASH eating plan, go to the NHLBI's "Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH."
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Your doctor may recommend the DASH eating plan if you have high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as
the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure rises and falls during the day.
If blood pressure rises and stays high over time (high blood pressure), it can damage the body in many ways. High blood pressure also is called hypertension (HI-
per-TEN-shun).
Blood pressure includes systolic (sis-TOL-ik) and diastolic (di-ah-STOL-ik) pressures. "Systolic" refers to blood pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood.
"Diastolic" refers to blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.
You'll most often see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above or before the diastolic number, such as 120/80 mmHg. (The mmHg is
millimeters of mercurythe units used to measure blood pressure.)
Blood pressure is considered high if it stays at or above 140/90 mmHg over time. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure is defined as
130/80 mmHg or higher. A diagnosis of high blood pressure is based on an average of two or more properly measured, seated blood pressure readings done during
two or more office visits.
High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes your heart work too hard. The condition can damage your blood vessels and organs, such as your heart,
kidneys, brain, and eyes.
High blood pressure is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death among Americans. High blood pressure also can put
you at risk for other medical conditions, such as heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness.
For more information about high blood pressure, go to the Health Topics High Blood Pressure article.
What Are the Benefits of the DASH Eating Plan?
Following the DASH eating plan and eating less sodium (salt) can lower high blood pressure or your risk for the condition. Following DASH also can improve blood
lipid levels, which also helps reduce your cardiovascular risk.
Results from the DASH research showed that following a DASH plan containing 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day lowered blood pressure. Following a DASH
plan containing 1,500 mg of sodium lowered blood pressure even more (systolic blood pressure was lowered by about 7 to 12 mmHg).
One important note: If you take medicine to control high blood pressure, you should keep taking it. However, you should tell your doctor that you're now following
the DASH eating plan.
Following the DASH Eating Plan
The DASH eating plan is easy to follow using common foods available in your grocery store. The plan includes daily servings from different food groups. The number
of servings you should have depends on your daily calorie (energy) needs.
To figure out your calorie needs, you need to consider your age and physical activity level. If you want to maintain your current weight, you should eat only as many
calories as you burn by being physically active. This is called energy balance. (For more information about energy balance, go to the Health Topics Overweight and
Obesity article.)
If you need to lose weight, you should eat fewer calories than you burn or increase your activity level to burn more calories than you eat.
Consider your physical activity level. Are you sedentary, moderately active, or active?
Sedentary means that you do only light physical activity as part of your typical daily routine.
Moderately active means that you do physical activity equal to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles a day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, plus light physical activity.
Active means that you do physical activity equal to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, plus light physical activity.
Use the chart below to estimate your daily calorie needs.
Daily Calorie Needs for Women
Age (years)
Calories Needed for Sedentary
Activity Level
Calories Needed for Moderately
Active Activity Level
Calories Needed for Active Activity
Level
1930 2,000 2,0002,200 2,400
3150 1,800 2,000 2,200
51+ 1,600 1,800 2,0002,200
Daily Calorie Needs for Men
Age (years)
Calories Needed for Sedentary
Activity Level
Calories Needed for Moderately
Active Activity Level
Calories Needed for Active Activity
Level
1930 2,400 2,6002,800 3,000
3150 2,200 2,4002,600 2,8003,000
51+ 2,000 2,2002,400 2,4002,800
After figuring out your daily calorie needs, go to the table below and find the closest calorie level to yours. This table estimates the number of servings from each
food group that you should have. Serving quantities are per day, unless otherwise noted.
DASH Eating PlanNumber of Food Servings by Calorie Level
Food Group
1,200
Cal.
1,400
Cal.
1,600
Cal.
1,800
Cal.
2,000
Cal.
2,600
Cal.
3,100
Cal.
Grains
a
45 56 6 6 68 1011 1213
Vegetables 34 34 34 45 45 56 6
Fruits 34 4 4 45 45 56 6
Fat-free or low-fat dairy
products
b
23 23 23 23 23 3 34
Lean meats, poultry, and fish 3 or less 34 or less 34 or less 6 or less 6 or less 6 or less 69
Nuts, seeds, and legumes 3 per week 3 per week 34 per week 4 per week 45 per week 1 1
Fats and oils
c
1 1 2 23 23 3 4
Sweets and added sugars 3 or less per
week
3 or less per
week
3 or less per
week
5 or less per
week
5 or less per
week
2 2
Maximum sodium limit
d
2,300 mg/day 2,300 mg/day 2,300 mg/day 2,300 mg/day 2,300 mg/day 2,300 mg/day 2,300 mg/day
a
Whole grains are recommended for most grain servings as a good source of fiber and nutrients.
b
For lactose intolerance, try either lactase enzyme pills with dairy products or lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk.
c
Fat content changes the serving amount for fats and oils. For example, 1 Tbsp regular salad dressing = one serving; 1 Tbsp low-fat dressing = one-half
serving; 1 Tbsp fat-free dressing = zero servings.
d
The DASH eating plan has a sodium limit of either 2,300 mg or 1,500 mg per day.
DASH Eating PlanServing Sizes, Examples, and Significance
Food Group Serving Sizes Examples and Notes
Significance of Each Food Group to
the DASH Eating Plan
Grains
a
1 slice bread
1 oz dry cereal
b
cup cooked rice, pasta, or cereal
b
Whole-wheat bread and rolls, whole-
wheat pasta, English muffin, pita bread,
bagel, cereals, grits, oatmeal, brown
rice, unsalted pretzels and popcorn
Major sources of energy and fiber
Vegetables 1 cup raw leafy vegetable
cup cut-up raw or cooked vegetable
cup vegetable juice
Broccoli, carrots, collards, green beans,
green peas, kale, lima beans, potatoes,
spinach, squash, sweet potatoes,
tomatoes
Rich sources of potassium, magnesium,
and fiber
Fruits 1 medium fruit
cup dried fruit
cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit
cup fruit juice
Apples, apricots, bananas, dates,
grapes, oranges, grapefruit, grapefruit
juice, mangoes, melons, peaches,
pineapples, raisins, strawberries,
tangerines
Important sources of potassium,
magnesium, and fiber
Fat-free or low-fat dairy
products
c
1 cup milk or yogurt
1 oz cheese
Fat-free milk or buttermilk; fat-free,
low-fat, or reduced-fat cheese; fat-
free/low-fat regular or frozen yogurt
Major sources of calcium and protein
Lean meats, poultry, and fish 1 oz cooked meats, poultry, or fish
1 egg
Select only lean; trim away visible fats;
broil, roast, or poach; remove skin from
poultry
Rich sources of protein and magnesium
Nuts, seeds, and legumes cup or 1 oz nuts
2 Tbsp peanut butter
2 Tbsp or oz seeds
cup cooked legumes (dried beans, peas)
Almonds, filberts, mixed nuts, peanuts,
walnuts, sunflower seeds, peanut
butter, kidney beans, lentils, split peas
Rich sources of energy, magnesium,
protein, and fiber
Fats and oils
d
1 tsp soft margarine
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp salad dressing
Soft margarine, vegetable oil (canola,
corn, olive, safflower), low-fat
mayonnaise, light salad dressing
The DASH study had 27% of calories as
fat, including fat in or added to foods
Sweets and added sugars 1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp jelly or jam
cup sorbet, gelatin dessert
1 cup lemonade
Fruit-flavored gelatin, fruit punch, hard
candy, jelly, maple syrup, sorbet and
ices, sugar
Sweets should be low in fat
a
Whole grains are recommended for most grain servings as a good source of fiber and nutrients.
b
Serving sizes vary between cup and 1 cups, depending on cereal type. Check the product's Nutrition Facts label.
c
For lactose intolerance, try either lactase enzyme pills with dairy products or lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk.
d
Fat content changes the serving amount for fats and oils. For example, 1 Tbsp regular salad dressing = one serving; 1 Tbsp low-fat dressing = one-half
serving; 1 Tbsp fat-free dressing = zero servings.
The DASH Eating Plan as Part of a Heart Healthy Lifestyle
Making other heart healthy lifestyle changes while following the DASH eating plan is the best way to prevent or control high blood pressure. For example, try to
maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, make healthy eating choices, and don't smoke.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is an important part of a heart healthy lifestyle. If you're overweight or obese, you can lose weight while following the DASH eating
plan. By reducing your daily calorie intake by 500 to 1,000 calories, you can slowly lose weight.
A weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week is do-able, safe, and will help you keep off the weight. To create a weight-loss or weight-maintenance plan that's right for
you, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
For more information about maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight, go to the Health Topics Overweight and Obesity article.
Be Physically Active
Physical activity also is an important part of a heart healthy lifestyle. You can benefit from as little as 60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.
Walking is an excellent heart healthy activity. The more active you are, the more you'll benefit.
You can do aerobic activity with light, moderate, or vigorous intensity. If you choose activities at a moderate intensity level, aim to do at least 2 hours and 30
minutes (150 minutes) per week. If you choose vigorous-intensity activities, do at least 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) per week. You can do these activities
for 10 minutes or more at a time. In addition, try to include muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week.
Children and youth should do 1 hour (60 minutes) or more of physical activity every day; at least 3 days per week the activity should be of vigorous intensity. A
great way to encourage physical activity is to do it as a family.
To get started and stay active, make physical activity part of your daily routine, keep track of your progress, and be active and safe.
If you have a heart problem or chronic diseasesuch as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetesask your doctor what types of physical activity are safe for
you.
You also should ask your doctor about safe physical activities if you have symptoms such as chest pain or dizziness.
For more information about physical activity, go to the Health Topics Physical Activity and Your Heart article.
Make Healthy Eating Choices
Reduce Sodium
While following the DASH eating plan, choose and prepare foods with less sodium (salt). Be creativetry herbs, spices, lemon, lime, vinegar, and salt-free seasoning
blends while cooking and at the table to add flavor to your foods. For examples of how to season foods without using salt, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institutes (NHLBIs) Flavor That Food Web page.
Most of the sodium that people eat comes from processed foods. So, make sure you read the Nutrition Facts label on prepared foods to check the amount of sodium
in each item.
For more information about how to read a Nutrition Facts label, see boxes 10 and 11 in the NHLBIs "Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH."
Buy low-sodium, reduced-sodium, or no salt added versions of foods when they're available. Rinse all canned vegetables and beans before cooking and eating them.
Increase Potassium-Rich Foods
The DASH eating plan includes foods rich in potassium, such as fruits and vegetables, to help keep blood pressure levels healthy. In general, potassium should come
from food sources only, not supplements. To find information on the potassium content of selected foods, search the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard
Reference at http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ .
Reduced-sodium products and salt substitutes likely contain potassium chloride as a main ingredient. This substance may harm people who have certain medical
conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. Check with your doctor before trying reduced-sodium products and salt substitutes that contain potassium chloride.
Limit Alcohol
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation: up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. A drink equals 12 fluid ounces of regular
beer, 5 fluid ounces of wine, or 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Don't Smoke
If you smoke or use tobacco, quit. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, including the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, mouth, reproductive organs,
bones, and digestive organs. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke.
Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. If you have trouble quitting smoking on your own, consider joining a support group.
Many hospitals, workplaces, and community groups offer classes to help people quit smoking. Ask your family and friends to support you in your efforts to quit.
For more information about how to quit smoking, go to the Health Topics Smoking and Your Heart article and the NHLBIs "Your Guide to a Healthy Heart."
Getting Started on the DASH Eating Plan
To get started on the DASH eating plan, begin with the following changes over a few days or weeks. This will give you a chance to adjust to the changes and make
them part of your daily routine:
If you now eat one or two servings of vegetables a day, add a serving at lunch and another at dinner. Add a serving of fruit at one meal a day or as a
snack.
Choose whole-grain foods for most of your grain servings to get added nutrients, such as minerals and fiber. For example, choose whole-wheat bread
or whole-grain cereals.
Include three servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy products a day.
Limit lean meats to 6 ounces a day. Have only 3 ounces of lean meat (about the size of a deck of cards) at a meal. If you usually eat large portions of
meat, cut back over a couple of daysby half or a third at each meal.
Include two or more vegetarian-style, or meatless, meals each week.
Read the Nutrition Facts label on foods to compare the amount of sodium (salt) in products. Look for the sodium content in milligrams (mg) and the
Percent Daily Value. Aim for foods that have less than 5 percent of the daily value of sodium. Foods with 20 percent or more of the daily value of
sodium are considered high-sodium foods.
For more information and tips on how to adopt the DASH eating plan, including a week of DASH menus, go to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's "Your
Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH."
More Helpful DASH Tips
The DASH eating plan might have more servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods than youre used to eating. Slowly increase your servings of these
foods over several weeks.
If you have trouble digesting dairy products, try taking lactase enzyme pills with these foods. These pills are available at drug stores and grocery stores. You also
can buy lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk at the grocery store.
If you don't like nuts or are allergic to them, use seeds or legumes (cooked dried beans or peas) as part of your eating plan.
If you take medicines to control your high blood pressure, keep taking them. However, you should tell your doctor that you're now following the DASH eating plan.
How To Deal With Challenges and Setbacks
You may stray from the DASH eating plan or your other lifestyle changes. If so, don't let it keep you from reaching your health goals. Get back on track. Below are
some ideas that may help you:
Ask yourself why you got off track. Find out what triggered your setback, and start following the DASH eating plan again. Remember that changing
your lifestyle is a long-term process.
Begin with small changes. Trying to change too much at once can be overwhelming. Make one or two small changes at a time. This prevents you from
trying to do too much at once and keeps the changes simpler.
Write it down. Write down what you eat and the amount of physical activity you do each day. This can help pinpoint problems and ensure that you're
getting the proper nutrition and enough physical activity. Use the form in box 14 of "Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH" to
record your food and physical activity habits.
Celebrate success. Reward yourself for meeting your goals with something you like to do, not with food. Choose rewards that you'll enjoy, such as a
movie, music CD, an afternoon off from work, a massage, or personal time.
Links to Other Information About the DASH Eating Plan
NHLBI Resources
Delicious Heart Healthy Recipes from the NHLBI
At-A-Glance: Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH
High Blood Pressure (Health Topics)
"In Brief: Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH"
My Blood Pressure Wallet Card
Overweight and Obesity (Health Topics)
"Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH"
Non-NHLBI Resources
ChooseMyPlate.gov (U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
DASH (MedlinePlus)
"Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010" (U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
High Blood Pressure (MedlinePlus)
Clinical Trials
Children and Clinical Studies
Clinical Trials (Health Topics)
NHLBI Clinical Trials
NIH Clinical Research Trials and You (National Institutes of Health)
ResearchMatch (funded by the National Institutes of Health)