What is the DASH Diet and How Does it Work?

What is the DASH Diet - HealthCodes DNA

The DASH diet is a popular plan for weight loss. It is a low-calorie plan that can be adapted to suit individual tastes and lifestyles. There are two phases to the plan. Phase one is a fast diet, while phase two is a moderate-calorie diet. The DASH diet is highly recommended in both phases, but it is essential to stick to it for optimal results.

How does DASH Diet help me lose weight?

The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while cutting back on salt and fat. You can also switch white rice for brown and choose lean cuts of meat or an occasional serving of red meat. It also encourages vegetable oils (such as olive oil and margarine) and fat-free dairy products.

But a few foods to avoid on the DASH diet include processed and fast food, soda, and high-calorie cookies. The DASH diet includes recommendations for specific portions of foods from each food group every day. 

Your calorie requirements vary based on age, sex, and activity level. A 1600-calorie daily intake includes six servings of grains, three to four ounces of lean meat, 3-4 servings of nuts, seeds, legumes, and two servings of fats and oils. 

While the DASH diet is suitable for most people, those not experienced in cooking or meal planning may need a little extra guidance. For example, you should aim for four servings of vegetables daily, depending on your total calorie intake. Vegetables provide fiber, vitamins, and potassium. The DASH diet is an excellent option for those who want to shed pounds. The DASH diet includes plenty of protein, including lean meat, poultry, and fish. 

You can easily incorporate these meals into your diet by buying fresh fruit and vegetables every week. You can even cook one or two whole meals in advance and enjoy them for the week’s rest. By eating more healthy foods and focusing on whole grains, you can reduce the time you spend cooking each day.

Is the DASH diet good for weight loss?

The DASH diet is a low-fat, high-protein plan for losing weight. It encourages the consumption of lean meat, poultry, fish, and legumes. Besides the vegetables and fruits, the DASH diet also allows dairy and eggs. It is recommended that people with diabetes limit their red meat intake to no more than twice a week. 

Meat contains lots of nutrients, including B vitamins and iron. However, on the DASH diet, you should cut down on your meat intake and replace it with more vegetables, beans, and legumes. A vital component of the DASH diet is reducing saturated fat and sodium intake. Both can increase blood pressure, placing unnecessary strain on the heart muscle. 

Additionally, saturated fat can raise cholesterol, limiting blood flow to the heart and increasing the risk of heart attacks. People with high blood pressure should be especially cautious with coffee and other caffeine-based foods. 

In addition to weight loss, DASH also reduces high cholesterol levels, which may be one of the causes of heart attacks.

What is the DASH diet plan for weight loss?

The DASH diet is not a diet plan in the traditional sense. It is a way of eating that reduces sodium content in your diet. This plan encourages you to cut back on sodium by choosing low-sodium foods such as beans, vegetables, and fish. 

The DASH eating plan also includes a meal plan that consists of 1,600 to 2,000 calories a day. Dietitians recommend helping control blood pressure. It limits sweet treats and dairy products to two to three servings per day. Additionally, the diet is effective for weight loss as it limits calories. It is also a good idea to monitor sodium intake. 

Your goal is to have less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. There are many other reasons to follow this plan. But it’s a good plan for people with high blood pressure.

DASH diet is an overall plan that helps people with high blood pressure lose weight by reducing sodium levels. It emphasizes non-starchy vegetables and lean meat. The diet also limits saturated fat and tropical oilsIn addition, it encourages you to substitute some carbohydrates with low-fat protein. You’ll have enough protein to satisfy your cravings while losing weight. 

You can even use the DASH diet plan as a long-term way to manage your weight and prevent heart disease.

Two phases of the DASH diet

The DASH Diet is divided into phase one and phase two. Phase one focuses on eating healthy carbohydrates and vegetables, while phase two introduces fruit and whole grains. In the first phase, you can eat unlimited amounts of non-starchy vegetables and lean meat, which help you feel full. 

You can also count the calories in your food by using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s website. The two phases of the DASH diet do not require you to cut out any food, as long as you make smart choices every day. 

One of the fundamental principles of the DASH diet is to consume at least three to five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, compared to the typical American diet that includes less than half of this amount. 

Additionally, eating more produce is excellent for your overall health because it includes more fiber and potassium, which are essential for a healthy dietPotassium, in particular, is also a natural diuretic, which means that it will cause your body to flush out the extra sodium and fluid from your body. The DASH diet is broken down into two phases. 

In phase one, you focus on eating low-carb food for two weeks. Fruit and grains are out, but instead, you’ll eat non-starchy vegetables and lean meat. This is an excellent way to reset your metabolism and curb cravings. 

Phase two is a life plan that keeps you healthy and loses weight. The DASH diet is an excellent way to reduce blood pressure and keep the pounds off.

What foods are not allowed on the DASH diet?

The DASH diet recommends reading food labels before adding anything to your tea or coffee. Although the relationship between sugar and hypertension is controversial, some research suggests that it may increase blood pressure. 

If nothing else, cutting back on sugar is a good idea because it adds calories but no nutritional value. If you are trying the DASH diet to treat high blood pressure, you should consult your healthcare provider before starting the DASH diet.

Before you adopt the DASH diet, it’s essential to read through this list of foods allowed on the DASH diet and foods not allowed on the DASH diet, so you can plan your meal strategy accordingly and ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need.

This diet focuses on reducing sodium in your diet, which can cause side effects in specific individuals.

  • Salted nut
  • Sodas
  • Meat dishes 
  • Chips
  • Sugary beverages
  • Snacks
  • Candy
  • Cookies
  • Pastries

 Prepackaged pasta and rice dishes but not including spaghetti and cheese

  • Bread and rolls
  • Cold cuts & cured meats
  • Cheese
  • Pizza
  • Sandwiches
  • Sauces and gravies
  • Soups
  • Salad dressings   
  • Soups

What are the disadvantages of the DASH diet?

  • The DASH diet encourages fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Low-fat dairy foods are rich in calcium and protein, and vitamin D
  • To minimize bloating, gradually add small amounts of these foods to your meals. 
  • The diet may help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and gout. However, it is not perfect. 
  • You may have difficulty adhering to the diet.
  • You may find it a challenge to stick to strict guidelines.
  • Unlike many commercial diet plans, the DASH diet encourages the consumption of whole foods. 
  • Fresh fruit and seafood can be expensive. 
  • Weekly food shops can add up quickly and create a budget crunch. 
  • Additionally, calorie counting can be difficult, especially if you have a medical condition such as an eating disorder. 
  • The diet requires calorie counting, which may not be appropriate for everyone. However, the benefits of the DASH diet make it worth the effort.

How fast do you lose weight on the DASH diet?

The DASH diet is a low-calorie, high-protein diet. Those following the plan are encouraged to consume lean meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. 

While some foods can be challenging to replace, such as dairy products and sugary foods, the DASH plan is designed to help you Lose weight by replacing some with a higher-fiber and lower-calorie alternative.  

Healthcodes DNA has diet, nutrition, and fitness DNA test plans for anyone looking to lose weight in two to three weeks. 

However, to lose weight on the DASH diet:

  • You should limit sweet treats to five times a week. 
  • Limit dairy to two to three servings per day.

The DASH diet aims to lower blood pressure. Although it is designed for weight loss, and also has health benefits. The DASH diet is difficult, to begin with, so start with more minor changes that are easy to follow

Learning how to read nutrition labels, reduce the number of processed foods, and replace starchy side dishes with fruits and vegetables are excellent places to start your weight loss goals.

How long does it take for the DASH diet to work?

The DASH diet is a weight loss program designed to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol. It reduces blood pressure in several ways, including decreasing systolic pressure

Adults’ blood pressure levels are considered normal when they are below 120/80 mmHg, but anyone with a higher systolic blood pressure reading is considered at increased risk for cardiovascular diseaseThe diet is easy to follow, and it may seem like a challenge at first. But it works in so many ways that you’ll find yourself following it for years.

To get started with the DASH diet, first consult your doctor. They will give you the right plan based on your health, nutrition, and fitness test needs. HealthCodes DNA can also give you some meal planning guidance if you’re unsure of what to eat. 

Once you’re on the right track, you’ll see a difference in your blood pressure in two to three weeks. The DASH diet is a low-salt, low-fat diet. It’s recommended by Dr. Oliver Sacks, who has been on the DASH diet.

What are the 5 components of the DASH diet?

The DASH diet is a modified version of the food pyramid that emphasizes fruit and vegetables as the primary source of nutrients. Its recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables are about two to three times larger than the USDA Food Guide Pyramid

The DASH diet can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Here are 5 components of the DASH diet:

  1. Eat less salt: Choose foods with less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. Aim for 1,500 mg or less if you’re African American or have high blood pressure or other heart problems.
  2. Increase potassium levels: Potassium may help prevent blood clots and stroke. Good sources include potatoes, tomato products, and orange juice.
  3. Focus on fruits: About half of your fruit intake each day should be whole fruit such as apples or oranges instead of fruit juice.
  4. Choose vegetables: A variety of vegetables is essential for providing fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Starchy vegetables like potatoes are included in this group but should be eaten in moderation because they are higher in starch than other vegetables.
  5. Fewer servings of meat/poultry/fish or Limit saturated fat: Foods such as meat and dairy products tend to have a high cholesterol level. You can include some of the foods that you already enjoy in your diet on the DASH diet, as long as you stick to the other five components.

What is the DASH diet abundant in?

The DASH diet is abundant in what we need to be healthy: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. It’s also high in fiber and low in fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol. The DASH diet is a balanced diet that can help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure. The American Heart Association has recommended it for years because it’s an excellent way to eat healthy foods and not spend much money or time on them. 

You don’t have to cook anything fancy or expensive; you have to ensure that you’re eating enough of the right foods each day.

How do I start the DASH diet?

To start the DASH diet, you need to determine what foods are in the DASH plan. Or make a grocery list based on the weekly plan, and ensure to eat foods that meet the DASH recommendations every day. You can substitute salt with spices or use less salt than you usually would. Moreover, choose fruits and vegetables instead of meat or processed foods. 

Instead of eating fried or roasted food, choose grilled or poached foods. The DASH diet is based on reducing high blood pressure, but it doesn’t mean eating any salt. Sodium is necessary for our bodies to function, but too much sodium increases water retention, bad for your blood pressure. 

Hence, the DASH diet recommends eating no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. The average American eats about three times that amount. But, the best option is to understand what works best for your health, diet, and fitness.

DNA testing can help you better understand your body, so you can make good decisions and have access to personalized wellness, best diet, health, nutrition, and fitness test that suits your kind. HealthCodes DNA is the leader in genetic testing. We have analyzed the DNA of millions of individuals and have helped clients discover over 1,000 genetic markers linked to illnesses and diseases. 

We are the pioneers in personalized genetic testing, diet, health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness DNA tests. We can help you with your health. HealthCodes DNA is a genomic medicine platform that helps you access, understand, and utilize your DNA sequence information in your health and wellness.

Please find out more by visiting our home page today!

 

 

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You have the choice to participate in HealthCodes DNA Research by providing your consent. “HealthCodes DNA Research” refers to research aimed at publication in peer-reviewed journals and other research funded by the federal government (such as the National Institutes of Health – NIH) conducted by HealthCodes DNA. HealthCodes DNA Research may be sponsored by, conducted on behalf of, or in collaboration with third-parties, such as non-profit foundations, academic institutions or pharmaceutical companies.  HealthCodes DNA Research may study a specific group or population, identify potential areas or targets for therapeutics development, conduct or support the development of drugs, diagnostics or devices to diagnose, predict or treat medical or other health conditions, work with public, private and/or non-profit entities on genetic research initiatives, or otherwise create, commercialize, and apply this new knowledge to improve health care. HealthCodes DNA Research uses your aggregate or individual-level Genetic Information and Self-Reported Information as specified in the Terms of Service.

Consent process for research. Your Genetic Information and Self-Reported Information may be used for HealthCodes DNA Research only if you have consented to this use by completing a Research Initiatives Consent Document. If you have completed a Research Initiatives Consent Document:

  1. Your aggregated, de-identified Genetic Information may be used for either philanthropic or commercial research purposes as set forth more fully the Research Initiatives Consent Document.
  2. When your Genetic Information and Self-Reported Informationis being used for research purposes, it will not be linked to your Registration Information.
  1. Withdrawing your Consent.You may withdraw your consent to participate in HealthCodes DNA Research Initiatives at any time by emailing us at support@healthcodesdna.com. HealthCodes DNA will not include your Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information in new research occurring after 30 days from the receipt of your request. Any research involving your data that has already been performed or published prior to our receipt of your request will not be reversed, undone, or withdrawn. If you withdraw your consent for research your Genetic Information and Self-Reported Information may still be used by us and shared with our third-party service providers to provide and improve our Services (as described in Section 4.a), and shared as Aggregate Information that does not identify you as an individual (as described in Section 4.d).
  2. What happens if you do NOT consent to HealthCodes DNA Research?If you do not complete a Research Initiatives Consent Document or any additional consent agreement with HealthCodes DNA, your information will not be used for HealthCodes DNA Research Initiatives and you will not be able to use HealthCodes DNA Services.
  1. Recruiting for external research

Academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and other groups are always conducting interesting new research projects. We want to make you aware of these opportunities. While we do not share individual-level Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information with third-parties without your consent, from time to time we may inform you of third-party research opportunities for which you may be eligible. For example, if a university tells us about a new cancer research project, we may send an email to HealthCodes DNA members who potentially fit the relevant eligibility criteria based on their Self-Reported Information to make them aware of the research project and provide a link to participate with the research organization conducting the study.

  1. Information we share with third-parties
  • General service providers.We share the information described above in Section 3 with our service providers, as necessary to provide their services to us. Service providers are third-parties (other companies or individuals) that help us to provide, analyze and improve our Services. For example, we work with third-party laboratories and contractors to process and analyze your saliva sample for purposes of generating your Genetic Information

NOTE: Our service providers act on HealthCodes DNA’s behalf. While we implement procedures and contractual terms to protect the confidentiality and security of your information, we cannot guarantee the confidentiality and security of your information due to the inherent risks associated with storing and transmitting data electronically.

When you purchase a testing kit and report from HealthCodes DNA, you are instructed to send a saliva sample to our third-party laboratory with a unique barcode label. The unique barcode identifies you to us but not to the laboratory. We may also be required to provide to the laboratory, your sex and date of birth or age pursuant to clinical laboratory requirements such as the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). No other Registration Information such as your name, address, email, phone number or other contact information) is required or provided to the laboratory. The receiving personnel at the laboratory will remove and discard your “sender information” from the packaging (e.g., name, address) before testing personnel receive the samples for processing. Receiving personnel do not perform testing, and testing personnel handle saliva samples that are labeled only with the unique barcode. DNA and saliva samples are destroyed after the laboratory completes its work, provided that laboratory legal and regulatory requirements no longer require the actual samples to be maintained. A de-identified copy of genotyping data may be kept in accordance with CLIA. The laboratory securely sends the resulting Genetic Information to our third party reporting company along with your unique barcode. Genetic Information is stored securely on our servers; the laboratory also stores your Genetic Information, but again, labeled only with the barcode.

  • “Targeted advertising” service providers.We may permit third-party advertising networks and providers to collect Web Behavior Information on our Service to help us to deliver targeted online advertisements (“ads”) to you. They use cookies and similar technologies (such as JavaScript, beacons, device identifiers, location data, and clear gifs) to compile information about your browser’s or device’s visits and usage patterns on our Services and on other websites over time, which helps to better personalize ads to match your interests, and to measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns.

If you wish to not have this information used for the purpose of serving you targeted ads, you may be able to opt-out of many advertising networks by visiting here and here (if you are located in Canada, click here; or if you are located in the European Union click here). Please note this does not mean that you have opted-out of being served advertising. You will continue to receive generic ads.

  • Aggregate information.We may share aggregate information with third-parties, which is any information that has been stripped of your Registration (e.g., your name and contact information) and aggregated with information of others so that you cannot reasonably be identified as an individual (“Aggregate Information”). This Aggregate Information is different from “individual-level” information. Individual-level Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information of data about a single individual’s genotypes, diseases or other traits/characteristics information. For example, Aggregate Information may include a statement that “30% of our female users share a particular genetic trait,” without providing any data or testing results specific to any individual user. We may provide such Aggregate Information in commercial arrangements with our business partners. In contrast, individual-level Genetic Information could reveal whether a specific user has a particular genetic trait, or all of the Genetic Information about that user. HealthCodes DNA will ask for your consent to share individual-level Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information with any third-party, other than our service providers as necessary for us to provide the Services to you.
  • Information we share with commonly owned entities.We may share some or all of your information with other companies under common ownership or control of HealthCodes DNA, which may include our subsidiaries, our corporate parent, or any other subsidiaries owned by our corporate parent in order to provide you better service and improve user experience. We may provide additional notice and ask for your consent if we wish to share your information with our commonly owned entities in a materially different way than discussed in this Privacy Statement.
  1. Disclosures required by law

Under certain circumstances your information may be subject to disclosure pursuant to judicial or other government subpoenas, warrants, or orders, or in coordination with regulatory authorities, we may be required to disclose personal data in response to lawful requests by public authorities, including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements. HealthCodes DNA will preserve and disclose any and all information to law enforcement agencies or others if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (a) comply with legal or regulatory process (such as a judicial proceeding, court order, or government inquiry) or obligations that HealthCodes DNA may owe pursuant to ethical and other professional rules, laws, and regulations; (b) enforce the HealthCodes DNA Terms of Service and other policies; (c) respond to claims that any content violates the rights of third-parties; or (d) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of HealthCodes DNA, its employees, its users, its clients, and the public.

NOTE: If you are participating in HealthCodes DNA Research, HealthCodes DNA will withhold disclosure of your personal information involved in such research in response to judicial or other government subpoenas, warrants or orders in accordance with any applicable Certificate of Confidentiality that HealthCodes DNA and/or any of its third party providers has obtained from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are limits to what the Certificate of Confidentiality covers so please visit the Certificates of Confidentiality Kiosk ( https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coc/index.htm).

  1. Your choices
  2. Access to your account

If your Registration Information changes, you may access, correct or update most of it from your Account page. You may also modify and delete certain of your information. Please note that you may not be able to delete User Content that has been shared with others through the Service and that you may not be able to delete information that has been shared with third-parties, though we can work with you to prohibit your data from being shared with third-parties in the future. We will respond to your request to access within 30 days.

  1. Marketing communications

By registering for an account, you are agreeing that we may send you promotional emails about our Services. You can opt-out of such emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of any of our or third-party promotional email communications. Please note that you may not opt-out of receiving non-promotional messages regarding your account, such as technical notices, purchase confirmations, or Service-related emails.

  1. Information you choose to share with others

You may decide to disclose your personal information to friends and/or family members, doctors or other health care professionals, and/or other individuals outside of our Services, including through third-party services such as social networks and third-party apps that connect to our website and mobile apps through our application programming interface (“API”). These third-parties may use your personal information differently than we do under this Privacy Statement. Please make such choices carefully and review the privacy policies of all other third-parties involved in the transaction. For example, if you have enabled a HealthCodes DNA sharing feature with another person who downloads a third-party app that uses our API, your information may also be obtained by that third-party app developer and, potentially, by other users of that third-party app.

In general, personal information, once shared or disclosed, can be difficult to contain or retrieve. HealthCodes DNA will have no responsibility or liability for any consequences that may result because you have released or shared personal information with others.

  1. Account closure

If you no longer wish to participate in our Services or no longer wish to have your personal information be used, you may close your account by sending a request to support@healthcodesdna.com. When closing an account, we remove all Genetic Information within your account (or profile) within thirty (30) days of our receipt of your request. As stated in any applicable Consent Document, however, Genetic Information and/or Self-Reported Information that you have previously provided and for which you have given consent to use in HealthCodes DNA Research cannot be removed from ongoing or completed studies that use the information. Our contracted genotyping laboratory may also retain your Genetic Information as required by local law and we may retain backup copies for a limited period of time pursuant to our data protection policies. In addition, we retain limited Registration Information related to your order history (e.g., name, contact, and transaction data) as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services, as well as for accounting, audit and compliance purposes.

  1. Important Information
  2. Security measures

HealthCodes DNA takes seriously the trust you place in us. To prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, to maintain data accuracy, and to ensure the appropriate use of information, HealthCodes DNA uses a range of physical, technical, and administrative measures to safeguard your Personal Information. In particular, all connections to and from our website and mobile application are encrypted using Extended Validation Secure Socket Layer (EV SSL) technology.

Please recognize that protecting your Personal Information is also your responsibility. We ask you to be responsible for safeguarding your password, secret questions and answers, and other authentication information you use to access our Services. You should not disclose your authentication information to any third-party and should immediately notify HealthCodes DNA of any unauthorized use of your password. HealthCodes DNA cannot secure Personal Information that you release on your own or that you request us to release.

Your information collected through the Service may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which HealthCodes DNA or its subsidiaries, affiliates or service providers maintain facilities and, therefore, your information may be subject to the laws of those other jurisdictions which may be different from the laws of your country of residence.

  1. Business transactions

In the event that HealthCodes DNA goes through a business transition such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of its assets, your information will likely be among the assets transferred. In such a case, your information would remain subject to the promises made in any pre-existing Privacy Statement.

  1. Linked websites

HealthCodes DNA provides links to third-party websites operated by organizations not affiliated with HealthCodes DNA. HealthCodes DNA does not disclose your information to organizations operating such linked third-party websites. HealthCodes DNA does not review or endorse, and is not responsible for, the privacy practices of these organizations. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of each and every website that you visit. This Privacy Statement applies solely to information collected by HealthCodes DNA.

  1. Children’s privacy

HealthCodes DNA is committed to protecting the privacy of children as well as adults. Neither HealthCodes DNA nor any of its Services are designed for, intended to attract, or directed toward children under the age of 18. A parent or guardian, however, may collect a saliva sample from, create an account for, and provide information related to, his or her child. The parent or guardian assumes full responsibility for ensuring that the information that he/she provides to HealthCodes DNA about his or her child is kept secure and that the information submitted is accurate.

  1. Changes to this Privacy Statement

Whenever this Privacy Statement is changed in a material way, a notice will be posted as part of this Privacy Statement and on our customers’ account login pages for 30 days. After 30 days the changes will become effective. In addition, all customers will receive an email with notification of the changes prior to the change becoming effective.

  1. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Statement, please email HealthCodes DNA at info@HealthCodesDNA.com.