Dietary Interventions

The role of nutrition in hypertension control.

- Dr. Jyoti K Kusnur

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, making it one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and kidney damage. While medication is often necessary for controlling hypertension, research consistently shows that dietary interventions can play a crucial role in both preventing and managing high blood pressure. By making targeted changes to what we eat, we can significantly reduce the strain on our hearts and blood vessels.

The DASH Diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is one of the most widely recommended eating patterns for individuals with hypertension. Developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the DASH diet emphasises the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. It limits foods high in saturated fats, red meats, sweets, and sodium—key contributors to high blood pressure.