The DASH diet has been the subject of several research studies which continue to hit the news. One of the big news stories was regarding women who had followed a DASH eating pattern for over 20 years and had fewer heart attacks and strokes than those who did not. The news reports on this were so dramatic, that everyone was out of stock of The DASH Diet Action Plan by 8:00 AM on April 15, 2008. (Of course, today stocks have been replenished, so the book is readily available directly from the publisher, from NCES catalogue, Amazon,or Barnes and Noble.) A second story that month, reported on a research study showing that the DASH diet could also benefit teens with high blood pressure. The DASH diet truly is a healthy diet for almost everyone!

January, 2009, Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally - These smart strategies can get your numbers down.

Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:49pm EDT, Reuters.com - Healthy diet cuts teens' blood pressure

April 14, 2008 Blood Pressure Diet Helps Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke in Healthy Women, Long-Term Study Says.

CHICAGO, Apr. 14, 2008 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- A large study offers the strongest evidence yet that a diet the government recommends for lowering blood pressure can save people from heart attack and stroke.

But vitamin supplements do not do the trick. . .

Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:36am EDT Common vitamins no help for women's hearts: study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Middle-aged women at risk for heart disease received little benefit from taking vitamins C, E or beta carotene, researchers said on Monday.

The research . . .

•     Comparison of Strategies for Sustaining Weight Loss, The Weight Loss Maintenance Randomized Control Study. Published in the March 12, 2008, issue of JAMA. This study detailed how people were able to maintain their weight loss while continuing to follow the DASH Diet.

•     Adherence to a DASH-Style Diet and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Women. Published in the April 14, 2008, edition of Archives of Internal Medicine. This study showed that women who followed an eating pattern conforming to the DASH diet, over 24 years of monitoring, had significantly lower rates of heart disease and stroke.

•     The efficacy of a clinic-based behavioral nutrition intervention emphasizing a DASH-type diet for adolescents with elevated blood pressure. Published in the April, 2008, issue of the Journal of Pediatrics. Teens who followed the DASH diet, consuming more fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, and nuts, were able to lower their blood pressure, and improve their diets.

•     Deteriorating dietary habits among adults with hypertension: DASH dietary accordance, NHANES 1988-1994 and 1999-2004. Published in the February 11, 2008, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. This study showed that in general, American's eating patterns have gotten worse over the past few decades, with fewer people eating enough fruits, vegetables, and dairy to provide the benefits that they would see if they were following the DASH diet.
  
  The DASH diet was developed in research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, and is recommended by the American Heart Association, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and is part of the US treatment guidelines for hypertension. The DASH Diet Action Plan was designed to be the user-friendly guide to help people adopt the DASH diet.