DASH Diet

DASH eating plan. "DASH" stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension," a clinical study that tested the effects of nutrients in food on blood pressure. The DASH eating plan includes whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts and has reduced amounts of fats, red meats, sweets, and sugared beverages.

What is the DASH Diet?

In this diet, the acronym “DASH” stands for “Dietary approaches to Stop Hypertension.” This diet has been formulated especially for people who are at risk of high blood pressure or who already have the condition. The diet is intended to support the medical therapies such individuals may have been prescribed and to benefit their overall health.

DASH Diet Health Benefits

The DASH-Sodium study

Dash diet cuts diabetes complications by targeting blood pressure kidney health and inflammation

The DASH diet supports metabolic health in people with diabetes by improving blood pressure, renal function, lipids, and modest glycemic markers while reducing risks linked to vascular and inflammatory pathways. Its broad nutrient-driven mechanisms also benefit related conditions such as neuropathy, PCOS, and retinopathy, making it a versatile tool for cardiometabolic care.

16 Nov 2025

SNAP benefits fail to fund healthy diets for many Americans, study shows

A new study reveals that while the Harvard Healthy Eating Pattern aligns with SNAP benefits, the Mediterranean and DASH diets often exceed allowable costs, particularly for individuals with higher calorie needs, highlighting a systemic “poverty tax” on healthy eating.

6 Nov 2025

Mediterranean-style diets improve pelvic floor function and sexual health, review finds

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies reveals that healthy, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean and DASH diets, are linked to improved sexual function and reduced incontinence symptoms in pelvic floor dysfunction. However, prospective evidence for incontinence improvement remains limited, suggesting that benefits may be mediated by metabolic and inflammatory pathways, especially in individuals with obesity or metabolic syndrome.

19 Oct 2025

Free school meals linked to lower childhood blood pressure

Findings reveal that universal free school meals contribute to better blood pressure outcomes in children, addressing obesity and food insecurity effectively.

3 Oct 2025

New ACC Scientific Statement highlights inflammation in cardiovascular disease

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) released today its second Scientific Statement, Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

29 Sep 2025

How processed red meat might drive neurodegenerative diseases

The relationship between processed red meat and neurodegenerative diseases is complex, with potential risks and protective effects requiring more investigation.

15 Sep 2025

Several healthy eating patterns may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes across diverse ethnic groups

A large new meta-analysis of more than 800,000 participants to be presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) shows that high adherence to three well-established healthy eating patterns is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of one's ethnicity.

30 Jul 2025

Boosting gut-friendly foods may slow biological aging, large US study finds

Higher scores on a dietary index linked to gut microbiota health are associated with slower biological aging in US adults, according to a large cross-sectional NHANES study. The findings suggest that improving diet quality for gut microbial diversity may help reduce age-related disease risk.

20 Jul 2025

Coffee’s hidden compounds could help fight type 2 diabetes

A comprehensive review of nearly 150 studies reveals that coffee polyphenols may help regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation linked to type 2 diabetes. However, most evidence comes from preclinical research, and robust clinical trials are needed to confirm benefits.

29 Jun 2025

Machine learning identifies key lifestyle factors for healthy brain function

A new study offers insight into the health and lifestyle indicators - including diet, physical activity and weight - that align most closely with healthy brain function across the lifespan.

16 Jun 2025

‘Junk food’ plant diets raise heart risk even if meat is cut out

Research shows that healthy plant-based diets lower cardiac biomarkers, while unhealthy plant foods raise heart disease risk. Key findings from a large study.

11 Jun 2025

Modified DASH diet shows blood pressure benefits for adults with diabetes

An estimated 38.1 million adults in the United States had diagnosed diabetes in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

11 Jun 2025

Back-to-basics, 'not fad' diets beat heart disease and diabetes

This review examines dietary interventions that can improve cardiometabolic health, highlighting the role of whole foods in reducing heart disease and diabetes.

4 Jun 2025

DASH diet and salt reduction work together to reduce cardiovascular risk

Reducing dietary sodium and following the DASH diet each lower 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with the greatest benefit when combined. This effect is especially strong for women, Black adults, and those with stage 2 hypertension.

23 Apr 2025

Study finds link between pregnancy mineral levels and lower blood pressure in midlife

Women with higher levels of essential minerals circulating in their blood during pregnancy, particularly copper and manganese, along with vitamin B12, had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure in middle age, about 20 years later, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025.

6 Mar 2025

High cholesterol diets increase heart attack risk in U.S. veterans, study warns

Higher dietary cholesterol intake is linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction among U.S. veterans, reinforcing the need for heart-healthy dietary choices.

10 Feb 2025

DASH Diet earns top spots in 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Diets Rankings

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, Diet, developed in part by Pennington Biomedical Research Center scientists, has been recognized as the second-best diet overall and the best heart-healthy diet in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Diets Rankings.

6 Jan 2025

Can the DASH diet prevent high birth weight?

Adhering to the DASH diet during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of having large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns, a key factor in preventing future metabolic disorders. This study highlights the role of healthy dietary patterns in improving maternal and fetal health outcomes.

5 Jan 2025

Higher diet quality scores linked to lower emissions but come with trade-offs

Plant-based diets show the best sustainability outcomes, reducing emissions and land use, but increase water use and costs, highlighting diet trade-offs.

16 Dec 2024