Which dietary modification is commonly recommended for hypertension and reflected in the DASH diet?

Which dietary modification is commonly recommended for hypertension and reflected in the DASH diet?

• A. Increase refined sugars.
• B. Emphasize fruits/vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean proteins with reduced sodium and saturated fat.
• C. Increase red meat and full-fat dairy.
• D. Eliminate all carbohydrates.

Answer: (B)

Focusing on how diet affects blood pressure, this option reflects the DASH approach, which centers on nutrient-rich foods that support vascular health. It emphasizes plenty of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy for calcium, and lean proteins, while keeping sodium and saturated fat low. This combination boosts intake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber, all of which help relax blood vessels and improve blood pressure control, while reducing fluid retention and arterial stress by limiting sodium and saturated fat. The other choices don’t align with hypertension management: increasing refined sugars provides no BP benefit and can worsen cardiovascular risk; increasing red meat and full-fat dairy raises saturated fat and sodium; eliminating all carbohydrates is not a recommended or needed strategy for blood pressure and would undermine a balanced diet.

Focusing on how diet affects blood pressure, this option reflects the DASH approach, which centers on nutrient-rich foods that support vascular health. It emphasizes plenty of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy for calcium, and lean proteins, while keeping sodium and saturated fat low. This combination boosts intake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber, all of which help relax blood vessels and improve blood pressure control, while reducing fluid retention and arterial stress by limiting sodium and saturated fat. The other choices don’t align with hypertension management: increasing refined sugars provides no BP benefit and can worsen cardiovascular risk; increasing red meat and full-fat dairy raises saturated fat and sodium; eliminating all carbohydrates is not a recommended or needed strategy for blood pressure and would undermine a balanced diet.