We Tried The DASH Diet And Here’s What Happened

All those struggling to maintain their weight and living a healthy lifestyle know just how difficult it can be. With thousands of different diets spread all over the Internet, it’s tough to find the one that’ll work best for you. But here’s one that experts vouch for – the DASH Diet.  Experts swear by it and US News & World Report has ranked it as the best diet for the eighth consecutive year. To give you an insight into what it is and how it works, we tried the DASH Diet and here’s what we found.

What Is The DASH Diet?

As fancy as it may sound, DASH actually stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.”It was developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute with the objective to reduce blood pressure and improve the health of those dealing with high blood pressure. The diet involves eating wholesome, nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, beans and food items that improve health and help in weight loss.

How Does It Work?

The reason we found the DASH diet much easier than other diets is because it didn’t require us to give up carbs. It only stops you from consuming processed foods and an excess intake of fats, sugars and sodium. The DASH diet includes following a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet, which can be broken down like this:

• Grains: 6-8 servings per day
• Meats, poultry, and fish: 6 or fewer servings per day
• Vegetables: 4-5 servings per day
• Fruit: 4-5 servings per day
• Low-fat or fat-free dairy products: 2-3 servings per day
• Fats and oils: 2-3 servings per day
• Nuts, seeds, dry beans, and peas: 4-5 servings per week
• Sweets: 5 or fewer servings per week
• Sodium: 2,300 mg per day

How Beneficial Is The DASH Diet?

When none of the other diets worked for us, we came across the all-in-one DASH diet, where even science proves its benefits. As per its objective, the diet lowered hypertension, as it limits the intake of salt. It clearly helped in losing weight in a healthy way by emphasising on the consumption of vegetables, fruits, protein and heart-healthy fats, which controlled hunger, resulting in a lower calorie intake.

Is It Worth It?

Backed by science, this diet is undoubtedly a great option to lose weight without compromising on one’s health. Along with reducing weight, it keeps the blood pressure normal and is easy enough for anyone to follow.

Disclaimer: Please consult with a nutritionist/doctor before starting any diets.