The DASH diet is consistent with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2006 Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations which may be accessed at : http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/114/1/82.full.pdf (6)
Evidence-based effectiveness of DASH:
As cited in “Your Guide To Lowering Your Blood Pressure With DASH” by the US Department of Health and Human Services, April 2006 (6): A study involved 459 adults (50% women, 60% African America) with systolic blood pressure less than 160 mmHg and diastolic pressure of 80-95 mmHg. The study compared 3 eating plans that all included a daily sodium intake of 3,000 mg: 1) a normal American diet; 2) a normal American diet plus more fruits and vegetables; 3) and the DASH eating plan. A reduction in blood pressure was reported among participants who followed both the plan that included more fruits and vegetables and the DASH diet. Overall, the DASH diet had the greatest effect with blood pressure reductions reported within 2 weeks of starting the diet. The benefits of the DASH diet were especially pronounced in those with high blood pressure.