So, folks:

I understand that some recent medical research suggests that the success of the DASH diet is due to its effect on sodium excretion. Any thought? There seem to be quite a lot of opinions about this diet floating around. Thanks!

tamuprof

So, folks:

I understand that some recent medical research suggests that the success of the DASH diet is due to its effect on sodium excretion. Any thought? There seem to be quite a lot of opinions about this diet floating around. Thanks!

tamuprof

Yes, there are a lot of "opinions" about this diet out there...keep in mind that opinions are just that, opinions...and they may be based on information that is dated, inaccurate, insignificant, taken out of context.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension was developed by medical and nutritional experts from our country's prominent universities, medical centers, and health institutions. The diet is for all to read, as are other government recommendations and guidelines (and the supporting documentation) addressing blood pressure management. I would encourage you to do your own reading and come to your own conclusions...that way, what you are reading is up to date, is not taken out of context, and is relevant to your health situation.

I understand that some recent medical research suggests that the success of the DASH diet is due to its effect on sodium excretion....

Although the role of salt in the diet is important, the researchers of the DASH study wanted to focus on the role of real foods (and not supplements), so the original DASH diet wasn't "low salt"....it was high in fruits, vegetables, and low in fat but it still reduced blood pressure. It was only in a follow up study that researchers learned that a reduced sodium DASH diet would have a greater impact on lowering bp than the original DASH diet.

Bethsheba

I believe what I read specifically about the follow up studies was not that they were low sodium per se, e.g. adjusted the original DASH diet, but that it was the diet ITSELF which exhibited a diuretic effect on the body, and (for whatever reason), accelerated the process of sodium excretion. This was especially true for the subset of African Americans in the sample.

So again, it wasn't the low sodium aspect of the diet per se, but something else at work concerning the foods that acted on sodium excretion.

So I wonder, if the diet is just a huge natural diuretic, or there is more to it? Does anyone know what the diet's success % rate is compared with that of prescription diuretics?

It is also interesting to me that the DASH folks seem very keen on making a LOT of money off this diet as there a bazillion books and such for sale about it. When health is combined with profit motives I always get a tad nervous.

Anyway, that's a bit off topic...

tamuprof45

It's a diet you won't stick to... better to take Meds...

...It is also interesting to me that the DASH folks seem very keen on making a LOT of money off this diet as there a bazillion books and such for sale about it. When health is combined with profit motives I always get a tad nervous....tamuprof45

Yes, profit motives are a concern as well as motives to elevate one's standing in scholarly circles, etc. Because it is a concern, scientists, not for profit organizations, educational instutitions, and government agencies have institutional review boards, codes of ethical standards and conduct, employment contracts (that limit or forbid employees from personally benefiting from their work), and/or federal laws/guidelines that they must adhere to because the American public is paying for (or at least a part of) the research that they are doing...that may be why you don't see astronauts on tv promoting certain airlines, or army sargaents pushing athletic shoes, etc.

FYI, many government publications (including the dash book) are available free to the public on governent websites...

Bethsheba

It's a diet you won't stick to... better to take Meds...

I've been on the diet for months now actually...it just hasn't helped all that much...no more than a 4mm drop in BP. I did lose a lot of weight and feel better though.

I may end up on meds yet, but things like edema, exhaustion, a massively diminished ability to exercise, and impotence don't quite appeal to me!

tamuprof45

The consequences of an uncontrolled blood pressure aren't that appealing, either....You are lucky you still have a choice at this point. When it comes to going on the blood pressure meds or facing the consequences of an uncontrolled blood pressure and the devastation it causes, most will choose the meds. Guaranteed.

I am not sure I do have a choice at this point, and I am well aware of the consequences of high BP, having lost a number of close relatives to strokes.

That does not make the prospect of the side effects of meds any less disturbing.

tamuprof45

Hi Tam,

Have you considered a diuretic? You must eat a healthy diet with taking a diuretic to keep up with the minerals losses in the urine. I find taking a diuretic pretty easy in the short term although as with all these drugs you never know what the long term consequences are. You have to get regular blood work done. Fam

Hi Tam,

Have you considered a diuretic? You must eat a healthy diet with taking a diuretic to keep up with the minerals losses in the urine. I find taking a diuretic pretty easy in the short term although as with all these drugs you never know what the long term consequences are. You have to get regular blood work done. Fam

Yes I have. I have tried many natural diuretics, with mixed results. I see my doctor on Monday, where I present 6 months of BP readings...prehypertensive when I started, prehypertensive now. He has said his first choice is a diuretic.

I fear my "problem" is more complicated than that. I have very labile BP, very much emotion induced, and I don't think meds work very well for that. I have a few more things to try yet in that dept.

I also think I may have a sleep issue, as Bethsheba has noted in many posts. NOT sleep apnea, but one of my sinuses is blocked with POLYPS, which makes my sleeping very erratic. This is one more thing I need to address to see if it makes a difference.

Again, the micromangement of Bp is not fun, as that acp guy said...whoever he was ;)

tamuprof45

Hi Tam,

I, too have very labile HBP. My lowest was 114/55 & highest was 230/80 within the last 6 months. I'm on Labetalol (an apha/beta blocker) & HCTZ. These drugs don't prevent "breakthrough b/p spikes" but they do give one some protection from strokes & heart attacks I am told.

I like the fact that I have labetalol in my back pocket that I can take for those b/p spikes. It works fairly quickly.

I have mild sleep apnea which responded to using C-pap by decreasing my b/p 10 points (systolic).

I took "biofeedback" which would have been great except being on a beta blocker prevented the machine from working properly for me. That method has worked for some people to reduce b/p.

Reducing stress is a big issue as well in dealing with HBP.
I just eliminated a lot of stress. It is amazing what we put up with that raises our b/p for no good reason.

Good luck. Fam

Hi Tam,

I, too have very labile HBP. My lowest was 114/55 & highest was 230/80 within the last 6 months. I'm on Labetalol (an apha/beta blocker) & HCTZ. These drugs don't prevent "breakthrough b/p spikes" but they do give one some protection from strokes & heart attacks I am told.

I like the fact that I have labetalol in my back pocket that I can take for those b/p spikes. It works fairly quickly.

I have mild sleep apnea which responded to using C-pap by decreasing my b/p 10 points (systolic).

I took "biofeedback" which would have been great except being on a beta blocker prevented the machine from working properly for me. That method has worked for some people to reduce b/p.

Reducing stress is a big issue as well in dealing with HBP.
I just eliminated a lot of stress. It is amazing what we put up with that raises our b/p for no good reason.

Good luck. Fam

Wow, your BP is REALLY labile! Mine is "sort of labile" moving between the 115s to 130s...and only the systolic.

I don't believe I have sleep apnea, but I have a blocked sinus, possibly polyps that definintely affects my sleep, since I can basically only breath through one nostril. I plan on asking my doctor about fixing that. My sleep, in general, is not good, so I have no doubt that is an issue.

Getting better at stress elimination, but stress if part of life sadly, esp. at work!

tamuprof45

I just read about the "okinawa diet"...VERY similar to DASH re the emphasis on fruits and vegetables. But a little less grain, and emphasizing fish over any other meat exclusively. Also, WAY fewer calories than DASH recommends. I imagine for the average American it would be tough to follow, but the more you read about calorie restriction it makes sense. And they are the longest lived people on earth!

I have been fascinated by the fact that the Japanese diet is VERY high in sodium, and the Japanese have one of the highest rates of hypertension in the world, and yet they are still one of the longest lived people there are. I wonder if somehow what they eat protects against the high blood pressure it causes?

tamuprof45

I have been fascinated by the fact that the Japanese diet is VERY high in sodium, and the Japanese have one of the highest rates of hypertension in the world, and yet they are still one of the longest lived people there are. I wonder if somehow what they eat protects against the high blood pressure it causes?

I am not sure how it works. Japan is mentioned in the salt, diet and health book as a nation with a huge salt consumption. Apparently, there was at one time much public effort to reduce the salt intake (with only a moderate success rate), to recognize and treat the widespread hypertension, and thus decrease (successfully) the incidence of strokes. The beneficial effects of a lower sodium consumption were noted in school children - there was a large fall in the childrens' blood pressure.
The modest reduction in sodium intake was accompanied by and increased consumption of fat. As they became westernized, smoking, alcohol, red meat consumption, rat-race stressful lifestyle became accepted. Taking time off work was seen as a weakness. Yet it is thought that none of these environmental factors contributed to the hypertension rates and they were a result of the high salt consumption exclusively.
I also think that their diet (fish, fish, fish - Omega 3s, plus tons of veggies) offsets the negative effects of too much sodium (up to 13.5 grams a day). They eat a lot of raw fish, perhaps that's somehow even more nutritious than cooked.

FG

Hey. I was reading through some of the messages on the Dash dirt. I can only speak for myself. I was on 3 medications for a long time. The side effects were horrid. I tried and tried to live normally. It got to a point where i was at my wits end. I began to get newsletters from a famous DR. This Doctor is a very big advocate for natural medication. I began following the Dash diet. I also started using a device that he recommended. The device is called the resperate. By using both methods I was eventually taken off 2 meds. I believe i will eventually be taken off of the final one. The Dash diet and resperate have probably saved my life. The truth is different things work for different people. You will not know until you try yourself. I always doubted natural medication, I no longer do. Does anyone else have experiences with natural medicine or methods? I would love to hear them. :D

Congratulations Sue! :) Way to go!

I couldn't agree with you more. The side effects of medications are horrid and make our lives miserable. I am happy for anyone who has the ability to achieve an adequate blood pressure reduction via natural means, therefore reducing or eliminating the need for medications. How long has the process of lowering your blood pressure taken? Have you also lost weight? What other lifestyle changes have you adopted?

We don't hear enough success stories. Thank you very much for sharing yours! :angel:

flowergirl