Week: 618.4

Guest: Greg Miller, PhD. Nutrition/Toxicology, Vice President, Nutrition Research, National Dairy Council

Topic: DASH diet for hypertension

Host/Producer: Steve Girard

NEMA: You can lower your blood pressure without taking drugs. Dr. Greg Miller of the National Dairy Council says the DASH diet...or Dietary Approach Against Hypertension...has proven powerful in tests around the U.S....

MILLER: The DASH diet, which was rich in low fat dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables had the greatest reduction in blood pressure. In fact, it was a quick drop in blood pressure...after 2 weeks of following this diet, people's blood pressure dropped dramatically. Almost to the level that you would find with drug intervention. And so they're very excited about the idea that if we could just change our dietary pattern a little bit, to include more fruits and vegetables, and some low fat dairy products....we have an opportunity to reduce blood pressure, if it's elevated...and potentially reduce the risk of getting high blood pressure.

NEMA: The effect of dairy foods in helping lower blood pressure as part of the DASH diet refutes common advice to shun dairy products. Research around the country was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Ask your doctor about the DASH diet. I'm Steve Girard at The Heart of the Matter.