In world history, salt was a sought-after commodity. Salt served as currency and established trade routes. Today, sodium intakes are linked to high blood pressure, and the committee that is currently working on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines is considering lowering the sodium recommendation for the general population. According to recent national studies, the average American consumes about 3,400 milligrams per day of sodium. This amount exceeds by over 1,000 milligrams the amount recommended in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines. If the 2010 Guidelines lower the sodium recommendations, the gap between current recommendations and consumption will widen.

Anyone can develop high blood pressure. Risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, high salt and sodium intake, low potassium intake, excessive alcohol consumption and diabetes. Making lifestyle changes to address these risk factors generally improves blood-pressure levels.

Dietary patterns are related to overall health. Many studies have found that eating a low-fiber, high-fat diet and drinking excess alcohol increase the risk of developing disease. In contrast, eating a diet that is rich in low-fat dairy products, fruit and vegetables can promote health. Studies have shown that a diet with 3 servings of low-fat milk or milk products and high amounts of fruits and vegetables (8 – 9 servings per day) can lower blood pressure as much as some blood-pressure-lowering drugs. It is important to note that in a large clinical trial, a diet with fruits and vegetables alone (without the low-fat dairy foods) lowered blood pressure by half as much as the diet including the dairy foods.

This eating pattern was later coined the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Eating Plan. While originally developed to study the effects of an eating pattern on the prevention and treatment of hypertension, DASH is one example of a balanced eating plan that promotes overall health. The handout DASH Study: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension explains the eating plan in more detail. The website DASH Diet Eating Plan provides more specifics on how to implement the eating plan.

Maureen Bligh, M.A., R.D.

Project Manager