bethsheba

I took the DASH diet challenge with the intention of reducing my pressures to a perfect 120/80...I didn't dash perfectly...didn't tally the sodium, but aside from bacon and quiche and a couple of glasses of wine, ate foods on the plan.....nor did I eat all of the servings...so there was room for improvement. Despite this, the results were positive, I think.

Pre DASH pressures averaged as high as 140/91...

DASH Week One

First Reading Average: 127/88, pulse 71
Second Reading Average: 122/88, pulse 81

DASH Week Two

First Reading Average: 123/85, pulse 70
Second Reading Average 120/88, pulse 73

I really didn't expect to see any change at all because prior to the challenge I didn't usually add any salt to my foods, I didn't (for the most part) purchase processed foods, and I tried to eat more fruits and veggies. So it was just a few small changes that brought about these figures...lower sodium "packaged"foods (mayo, catsup, canned tomatoes, margarine, cheese...) and perhaps, more fiber.

Bethsheba

PS I am currently med free and have every intention of staying that way...(the government estimates that 1/3 of the people who currently take meds could go med free by using the DASH meal plan)