Hello there this is Monica Reinagel and you're listening to the nutrition

Divas quick and dirty tips for eating well and feeling fabulous. I've got some research today that just might make

following your doctor's recommended dietary guidelines just a little bit

tastier and easier.

The Dash Diet was ranked number one for Best Overall Diet this month by the US News and World Report. They release an annual report on the most popular diets.

This diet was developed back in the early 90s

as a dietary approach to stop hypertension.

In fact, that's what Dash stands for, dietary approach to stop hypertension.

And it's been proven effective as a way to reduce blood pressure and lower cholesterol. And according to the experts who

rated the diets for US News and World Report, the Dash Diet isn't just good for your

heart. It's a very healthy way to eat overall. So what do you eat if you're on the Dash diet?

Compared to the typical American diet, the Dash diet contains lots more fruits and

vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

Poultry, fish, and plant sources are the preferred sources for protein.

Red meat, salt, sweets, and sweetened beverages are limited.

Not surprisingly, the people who follow the Dash diet

have higher intakes of fiber, potassium, magnesium, and calcium

and lower intakes of total fat, saturated fat and sodium.

The question isn't whether the Dash diet works, it clearly does.

The question is whether other approaches might work just as well or even better

to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. Because the Dash diet only works to the extent that you stick with it.

And although the Dash Diet works like gangbusters in a study setting where people's food intake

...