This year's trendy diet is actually not a diet at all. The DASH diet, which the US News and World Report routinely marks as the best overall diet every year, is actually a healthy-eating plan that includes sensible rules to cut salt, fats, and sugar and upping fruits and veggies in order to lower bad cholesterol levels and possibly lose weight. If you're ready to try the diet that everyone's talking about, read on for DASH's highlights.
DASH, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, was developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in order to help people lower blood pressure. While it's not a diet that promises rapid weight loss, many people do find success in dropping pounds slowly while following the DASH diet by cutting out the types of high-sugar, high-fat foods that aren't allowed on the diet.
Luckily, the DASH diet doesn't include any gimmicks, powders or snack bars — you just need fresh, whole foods and enough time to prepare healthy meals. In general, follow these guidelines:
While the DASH diet wasn't created for weight loss, following these guidelines will help you eat healthier and cut out the junk — which often means a lower number on the scale as well. No matter what, you'll definitely be helping your health, especially your heart, by changing your eating habits for the better. Tell us, have you ever tried the DASH diet?