Have you heard of the D.A.S.H. diet?
You probably have if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure. It stands for “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension“. It should be called the “politically correct” diet.
I first heard of it when my friend, Sue, sent me this e-mail. My response follows…
“Kelly, can you comment on the article below? I believe so much of what you and others who share your philosophy say, but how do I reconcile it with the following?”
Associated Press article about the D.A.S.H. diet
Before you read my response, first also take a look at this:
Specifics about the D.A.S.H. diet from the National Heart Lung Blood Institute
MY RESPONSE:
Sue, oh my, I want to throw up reading about that diet!
- Margarine? Vegetable oil? Low-fat dressings and mayo? Why not healthy fats?!
- “Ready-to-eat” cereal? Most of us don’t always eat what we should, but if you’re giving guidelines, wouldn’t you want to give people the healthiest suggestions possible? (See these healthy breakfast options.)
- Jelly beans and lemonade are recommended for the sweets?! (Say it with me, “FULL OF HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!”) Instead, why not something with real maple syrup or local honey?!!! (Here are some MUCH better options if you’re going to eat a little bit of sweets in moderation.)
- Skinless/lean meats?!! That’s not how God made them in nature! The protein comes with the fats for a reason! (One helps digest the other – God is so smart!) Find a farmer who sells pasture-fed chicken and doesn’t feed them junk or give them hormones, what a healthy food you’ll have then.
This is why I don’t pay attention to “studies” unless they first make common sense.
If these women were eating a lot of vegetables and whole grains, those changes alone are a HUGE improvement to most American diets. And if by cutting out fat, they cut their TRANS fats, then just those things would make someone MUCH healthier and that would show in the study.
But imagine if they did all that AND ate healthy fats, grass-fed meats, etc., then they’d be REALLY healthy, more importantly, they’d be more healthy long-term.
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THE COMMENTS – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS DIET?
- Plastic water bottles/5 plastics safety tips
- We started school shopping this week. Guess that means this post needs to get dusted off now, huh? School lunches – healthy alternatives
- Do you know a child who suffers with weight issues? Ask their parents to read this for 16 ways to help an overweight child
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Andrea 07.30.08 at 3:06 am
Hello, Kelly! Thank you for writing that post. I agree that more whole grains and vegetables would make anyone’s diet more healthful My father-in-law recently went to the doctor and they made him take a cholesterol test. It came back normal (where it had previously been high). He told the doctor he hadn’t changed anything…still ate sausage and butter and all the things he had always eaten, except that they have been making wholemeal bread instead of eating the store-bought stuff. That made all the difference.
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Crystal Machiele 07.30.08 at 7:19 am
As a natural health practitioner who spends much time educating people about the appropriate diet for them as an individual, these types of studies make me laugh. Before we even get into the diet… this was based on a 2000 calorie p/day diet… that huge number of calories represents a very small percentage of the population… the rest of the diet is ridiculous at best. This is why there is so much confusion out there about healthy eating practices. Doesn’t it make you wonder about the eating habits (and associated health) of the people who created this so called diet? Take care all… and continue questioning the things that don’t make sense.
Crystal
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Anonymous 07.30.08 at 7:29 am
I think you nailed it when you said you don’t pay attention to studies unless they first make common sense. Alas, we have traded in our common sense for the “experts” opinion. And, most “experts” are either bought off by the *sugar* industries or rest on the curriculum they studied 15 years ago.
Shame on them! I fired my nutritionist because she didn’t know the first thing about sugar addiction.
Most of them don’t: their party line? Moderation. Yeah, right and what do you do w/ the cravings that sets up?
You go, Kelly,keep up the fabulous work.
Hugs.
Karen
karenferguson@compuserve.com
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Michigan Mom2three 07.30.08 at 5:06 pm
Well – they would have had a heart attack over our supper tonight: Fried chicken dinner, REAL cream gravy, REAL mashed potatoes (with lots of butter and cream), homegrown beans with butter and salt, and homemade blueberry pie with a real pie crust made from coconut oil, and decalf coffee (yep, with REAL cream) for dessert!
If only they knew how good the eatin’ could be! It saddens me to think of how few people really have the simple pleasure of enjoying real food!
Shauna
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Kelly the Kitchen Kop 07.30.08 at 7:24 pm
Andrea, I’d love to have heard the doctor’s response to your father in-law! Love that story.
Crystal, great advice! Good to hear from you here.
Karen, funny you mention the word, “moderation” – I actually also have a weird pet peeve about the word and really don’t use it much – using it in this post bothered me. I can’t put my finger on why…maybe because people sometimes overuse the word as a way to justify too much. I’m not saying I’m all sparkly, I do love my sweets more than I should – but I call it what it is (I’m a pig) and don’t tell myself anything about “moderation”!
Shauna, Yowza! I’ll be over soon for any leftovers, but I doubt there are any! Isn’t that the truth, though?! Real food is so rich and flavorful with aromas that bring our family to the kitchen as they hound us, “When is it time to eat?!” Just how it was meant to be.
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Michigan Mom2three 07.31.08 at 4:19 am
Kelly – I agree with you on the word “moderation”. I hear that a lot, and I used to use the same phrase all the time…. “moderation in all things”. Sally Fallon once said “desserts are something you should deserve”. Hence the blueberry pie – I only make one, and it’s at blueberry season when I’ve picked them myself. It’s a seasonal treat that we all look forward to.
Shauna
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Kelly the Kitchen Kop 07.31.08 at 8:46 am
Shauna,
Your pie sounded so good, now I'm making one today, too. Not sure if I deserve mine, though! I didn't pick my blueberries, I didn't even go myself to the farm market! Sonia picked me up a 5# box when she was going yesterday. It will be all homemade though, and with swiss steak & mashed potatoes & some other farm market veggie with lots of butter, Mmmmmm…
Kelly
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Anna 08.20.08 at 5:55 am
Love the B.A.R.F. bit. Couldn’t agree more. Same for “moderation”.
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Faith 09.01.08 at 8:01 pm
I find this very interesting having never heard of the DASH diet. Upon reading it, it sounds like Weight Watchers. I was on Weight Watchers for 3 years. My family ate pretty much what I ate. I didn’t serve anything different to them. We ate the skim milk, lean meats (no skin, etc.), had the no fat stuff. I know, boring at best. At this time, my then 14 year old was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Hmmmm.. seems this “diet” should of kept him from having high blood pressure. Goes to show you.. it ain’t all that. lol We now eat fat and everything else good and his blood pressure has actually went down.
Just thought I’d share that. You’re right on it Kelly. Now, off to drink some whole milk! Yum!!
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Kelly the Kitchen Kop 09.02.08 at 1:04 am
Hi Faith,
There’s nothing like real-life proof! Thanks for sharing!
Kelly
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