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Past research indicates that adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can lower blood pressure.1,2 New research presented at the American Heart Association's 2007 Scientific Sessions, held Nov. 4–7 in Orlando, Fla., indicates it also may help prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
The finding comes from analyses of 24 years of data on 88,517 women participating in the ongoing Nurses' Health Study. At the start of the study in 1980, all enrolled participants, ages 34–59, were free of heart disease; they have since provided data on medical status every 2 years and on food intake every 4 years.
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Researchers scored participants' food intake according to compliance with the DASH diet, which emphasizes fruits, grains, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute researchers formulated the diet to help patients control high blood pressure.
After controlling for such factors as physical activity, body mass index, and smoking, researchers found that the more participants adhered to DASH, the lower their risk of CHD and stroke. DASH dieters also were more likely to have lower serum levels of C-reactive protein and Interleukin-6—inflammatory markers associated with development of type 2 diabetes.
As beneficial as DASH appears to be, lead researcher Teresa Fung, ScD, RD, assistant professor in the department of nutrition at Boston's Simmons College, acknowledges the diet can be challenging to follow. "DASH calls for nine servings of fruit and vegetables daily," she says. "Most Americans aren't even at five; the average is three and a half."
How can people make it easier on themselves? "Start by replacing meat
with beans, and from there, maximize your opportunities to eat fresh fruit and
vegetables every day," advises Fung. 
Footnotes
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers a patient education brochure on the DASH diet at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf.
References
2. Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, et al.: A clinical trial of the
effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research
Group. N Engl J Med 336:1117–1124, 1997.
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