Bionic Eye

| Eye on Health |
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7. Watch out for salt!
✓ Read food labels for sodium content. Watch for restaurant
and processed foods. Limit the use of salt in cooking and at
the table, use seasonings such as herbs and spices instead.
WHAT IS THE BEST DIET TO PREVENT HYPERTENSION AND LOWER
BLOOD PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS?
The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), is
a dietary approach that has been shown to provide benefits in
controlling high blood pressure. It accords with Health Canada’s
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. This diet emphasizes fruits,
vegetables, low-fat dairy products, dietary and soluble fibre, whole
grains, and protein from plant sources; and is reduced in saturated
fat and cholesterol.
Researchers conducted the DASH trial to determine the
impact of dietary patterns on the control of hypertension. The
DASH trial was a well-designed, randomized, multi-centre,
controlled study looking at the effects of dietary patterns on blood
pressure. The study groups consisted of a control diet; typical
American diet, which is relatively low in calcium, potassium and
magnesium; a high fruit and vegetable diet, with higher levels of
potassium, magnesium and fibre; and a combination or DASH diet,
which is high in fruit, vegetables and low fat dairy products, also
emphasizing whole grains, lower intake of cholesterol, saturated
fat, red meats, and refined sugar, and included nuts, seeds and
legumes several times a week.
VISION | jul_aug | 2008 | The Opticians Association of Canada |
Within two weeks of starting the diet, there were
significant changes in blood pressure in the participants
consuming more fruits and vegetables, but even more
significant changes in lowering blood pressure in the
participants on the combination or DASH diet. The
DASH-Sodium trial studied the effect of three different dietary
sodium levels, low (1500 mg), moderate (2300 mg) and high
(3500 mg) on blood pressure of non-hypertensive and
hypertensive individuals. Participants were randomly assigned
to either a control diet or the DASH diet and then followed
the three sodium levels for one month each. The results
showed with either the DASH diet or control diet, the lower
the sodium intake, the greater the mean reduction in blood
pressure.
WHAT ARE THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DASH DIET?
For the Prevention of Hypertension or Pre-hypertension
• DASH Diet Guidelines **
◗ 4-5 servings/day fruit
◗ 4-5 servings/day vegetables
◗ 7-8 servings /day whole grains
◗ 2-3 servings/day low-fat dairy products
◗ 2 servings or less/ day of lean meat, poultry, fish
◗ 2-3 servings/day unsaturated fats and oils
◗ 4-5 times per week nuts, seed and dried beans
◗ Limit of 5 low fat sweets per week
• Reduce sodium daily intake to 2300 mg or less especially for
salt-sensitive individuals.*
• Increase fibre intake to 25-30 grams per day with emphasis
on foods rich in soluble fibre. (ex. legumes, vegetables,
oats)
• A diet rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium is
encouraged. ISI
* Canadians of African descent, individuals over 45 years of age and those
with impaired renal function or diabetes.
** Recommended number of servings is based on a daily energy intake of
2000 kcal
References:
2007 Canadian Hypertension Education Program Recommendations: The Scientific
Summary - An Annual Update
Conlin PR, Chow D, Miller ER III et al. The effects of dietary patterns on blood
pressure control in hypertensive patients: Results from the Dietary Approaches to
Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial. Am J Hypertens. 2000; 13:949-55.
Bray GA, Vollmar WM, Sacks Fm,Obarzanek E., Svetkey LP, Appel LJ; For the
DASH-Sodium Collaborative Research Group. A Further Subgroup Analysis of the
Effects of the DASH diet and Three Sodium Levels on Blood Pressure: Results of
the DASH- Sodium Trial. Am J Cardiol.2004;94:222-227.