What Is the DASH Diet?
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
4. DASH Diet Sodium Levels
Although the DASH diet places an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy, sodium levels should also be controlled. This is important as sodium causes the kidneys to retain more water placing a strain on the arteries, kidneys, brain, and heart.
The consumption of excessive salt reduces the ability of the kidneys to excrete water resulting in higher blood pressure as there is more volume in the body. In the standard DASH diet, patients can consume up to 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. In addition to the standard DASH diet, the lower sodium DASH diet lowers the consumption of salt to 1,500 milligrams a day.
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