What is a DASH Diet?

1. 79

   ngurecoposted 13 years ago

   What is a DASH Diet?
   
   What are the types of foods one should eat in a DASH Diet eating program? And which dieting program do think is the best?

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2. 78

   BarryCrossposted 13 years ago

   The best eating programme you can go on to lose weight for life is the one that you can make a permanent lifestyle. Otherwise you will just lose the weight and put it all back on again like 95% of the population. As an example what is the point of doing Atkins if you love carbohydrate foods?
   
   I eat and love healthy carbs with every meal (fruit, vegetables etc) and maintain single digit body fat levels, so low carb is something I wouldn't keep up as a lifestyle. There is no right or wrong programme just the one where you enjoy the foods and it works for you results wise.
   
   I feel that one of the healthiest and easiest programmes to make a lifestyle for the regular person who doesn't want to live in the gym is the one that Tom Venuto has in his book "The Body Fat Solution".
   
   For both adults and children, this is an excellent book. It is life changing and also includes why you should eat correctly as in the right macronutrients etc. Plus the emotional eating techniques and excercise routines outlined are life changing too.
   
   Continual learning about mindset, nutrition, exercise and the basics on how they burn/maintain fat is the key to losing fat for life. If you read 10 pages of a good nutrition/exercise/self development book every day then by the end of the year you will have read 12 books and have plenty of knowledge to get you started.
   
   Here's some books I recommend:
   
   The Slight Edge - Jeff Olson. Read this one first!
   
   Mindless Eating
   
   The Body Fat Solution
   
   The Lean Advantage
   
   Ripped 1,2 & 3
   
   Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
   
   All books on "juicing" by Jason Vale (Not just for fat loss but amazing life changing health benefits too)
   
   Hope this helps
   
   Cheers, Barry

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3. 73

   jaybird22posted 13 years ago

   DASH simply stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.  The Dash Diet is a book that uses a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, low-fat, and non-fat dairy, beans, and nuts to keep people at a low, healthy weight.  By following this diet, one will decrease their hypertension, risk for stroke, and be at better odds of fighting off the onset of cancer.
   
   Whereas I've never read this book before, it sounds to me like common knowledge.  Obviously foods that are low in trans-fats, and with whole grains, protein, and vegetables is going to be healthier than eating deep fried foods, foods with high sugar content, and foods with a hefty carb count .  Any diet that promotes vegetables, protein, whole grains, etc is going to reduce a person's risk for Hypertension. 
   
   I think there is a vast amount of resources available on what to eat and what not to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  You don't have to be a dietician to be able to know that vegetables, fruits, protein, nuts, and non-fat dairy is better for you than a big mac at McDonald's.  I think the biggest problem in America is convenience and personal choice.  People might know what to eat, they simply choose to eat for flavor and not for fueling the body.  Then they can't seem to understand why they are getting sick all the time and feeling tired.  It's like the old saying, "you are what you eat."
   
   As for what dieting program is best, it all depends upon the person.  Some people are disciplined enough to do something like weight watchers and count points.  Others need a program like Jenny Craig or Nutria Systems that deliver all their daily meals to their house.  With the Nutria Systems type programs, the foods calories are calculated and the person is given proper amount of calories from fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. These type of diets are better for the person that doesn't like to take the time to cook or worry about how healthy they are eating.  All the healthy calculations are done by the company delivering the food so all the person has to do is eat and not worry about anything.

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4. 67

   anglnwuposted 13 years ago

   I think jaybird nailed it--the rudiments of DASH diet. Recently, I wrote an article comparing the most common diet plans out there...and also, my take on the whole diet thing.  I think that if we eat a balanced meal, no more than the amount of calories allocated to us (about 2,000 calories--more or less depending on gender and physical needs), have a active and healthy lifestyle, we should be able to lose weight and maintain it in the long run.
   
   http://anglnwu.hubpages.com/hub/Popular … st-Results
   
   Hope that helps.

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5. 59

   JustForHeartsposted 12 years ago

   Hello..!!
   DASH diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
   Foods which are low in sodium and high in potassium are included in it. This diet is helpful to reduce high blood pressure and also is seen effective for weight loss.
   DASH diet includes:
   1)Whole grains- 7-8 servings
   2)Fresh Vegetables 4-5 servings
   3)fresh fruits 4-5 servings
   4)Fish/lean chicken - 1-2
   5)Low fat milk and products 2-3
   Try including these foods in your diet soon as possible. All the Best!

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