Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a silent killer which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Each year hypertension kills more than 45,000 Americans. Your desirable blood pressure should be less than 120/80. If your blood pressure is:

• 140/90 or higher you have Stage 1 or "mild" hypertension
• 160/100 or higher you have Stage 2 or "severe" hypertension

The DASH approach to eating helps control blood pressure. Positive results are usually seen in two weeks! Added benefits of this eating plan are that it reduces your risk of osteoporosis because it includes sources of calcium and vitamin D and helps reduce cholesterol levels because it is low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.

What is the DASH eating plan? It's all about adding foods to your diet - instead of taking them away.

• Increase your servings of low-fat dairy foods to 2-3/day
• Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet - 8 servings/day
• Decrease fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.

For more information on the DASH eating plan including recipes and meal plans:

• 1-800-WHY-MILK
• www.whymilk.com

This is general information only and should not replace advice or instructions given to you by your physician.

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