The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has been proven in several research studies, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to lower blood pressure and cholesterol without medication. It is the diet recommended by the NIH for lowering blood pressure. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend this eating plan for everyone. And the DASH diet forms the basis for the USDA MyPyramid.
The DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, low fat or nonfat dairy, and includes lean meats, fish and poultry, grains, nuts and beans, and is low-salt. It will help lower cholesterol and will support healthy weight loss. It is flexible enough to meet the lifestyle and food preferences of most people. However, many people find it challenging to put the DASH diet into practice. This is the user-friendly book, designed to make it easy; it was written by a dietitian who is experienced in helping people make sustainable changes in how they eat.
This book shows you how to follow the DASH diet in your real life. How to eat on-the-run, how to add more vegetables even if you hate vegetables, how to make over your kitchen to support the DASH diet, how to lose weight with the DASH diet. It has 28 days of meal plans (with adjustments for 1200, 1600, and 2000 calorie plans), and DASH-friendly recipes.
It shows you how to make other lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure, such as losing weight and adding exercise. What differentiates this book from other books on the DASH diet? This book provides practical, real life solutions. It goes beyond "what" is involved with the DASH diet; it also shows you "how." The book helps you make your own personal plan, with the specific steps you will take to fit the DASH diet into your daily routine. This book truly allows you to make your own personal "DASH Diet Action Plan," whether your goal is lowering blood pressure, or just having a healthier lifestyle. It is your first step in improving your health for the long run.
About the Author
Marla Heller is a Registered Dietitian, holding a Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where she completed course work towards a PhD in Behavior Sciences and Health Promotion. She is experienced in a wide variety of nutrition counseling specialties. She has been an adjunct clinical instructor in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at UIC, and also taught at Dominican University, National-Louis University, and the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. In addition to The DASH Diet Action Plan, Marla contributed the 4-week menu plan for Win the Weight Game by Sarah, the Duchess of York, and wrote the healthy eating chapter in "I Always Start My Diet on Mondays!" by Janice Alpert. She has been a spokesperson for the Greater Midwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association and is a Past-President of the Illinois Dietetic Association.
Marla was diagnosed with high blood pressure in May of 2003. Since that time she has managed to keep her blood pressure in the normal range by following the DASH diet, and incorporating the other lifestyle changes to support reaching and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Marla lives the program that is featured in her book, The DASH Diet Action Plan.
