Dashing away hypertension: Evaluating the efficacy of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet in controlling high blood pressure

Table 1 Breaking down the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet

Food group	Daily servings	Nutritional value
Grains/dietary fiber	7-8	Rich in dietary fiber
Vegetables	4-5	Rich in nitrate, fiber, potassium, and magnesium
Fruits	4-5	Rich in nitrate, fiber, potassium, and magnesium
Protein (poultry, fish, etc.)	2-5	High in bioactive proteins and magnesium
Low and non-fat dairy	2-3	High in calcium, vitamin D, and bioactive proteins
Nuts, seeds, and dry beans	4-5	High in potassium, magnesium, proteins, and fiber
Fats and oil	2-3	Accounts for 27% of caloric intake and essential fats and oils
Sugar	5 per week	Sweets should be low in fat

A breakdown of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet by food group, serving size per diem, and the nutritional goal of each of the DASH guidelines. These specific guidelines have been endorsed and published by the National Institutes of Health[14].