DASH Diet
The aim of this diet is to facilitate a reduction of blood pressure or hypertension. This diet is based on the biological explanation that healthy eating patterns are essential for deflation of high levels of blood pressure (US News. U.S.News & World Report). The diet is also important because it does not trigger excessive weight-gains characterized by an increase in the waist-line. The DASH diet has been ranked #1 overall; stakeholders believe that nutrients including calcium, potassium and protein as well as fiber materials are crucial in the reduction of high blood pressure. These nutrients are available in fruits, whole-grains as well as vegetable products and low-fat dairy products (US News. U.S.News & World Report). From a personal perspective, I believe that one of the strengths of this diet that might have led to the ranking is that the sources of the nutrients suggested are not characterized by too much calories. It is important to acknowledge that excessive calories available in certain food products are responsible for excessive weight-gains particularly among individuals who do not engage in regular physical activities. The other strength of the diet is based on based on the fact that it encourages a reduction of daily salt and fat consumption; medical experts have associated excessive salt consumption with constriction of blood-vessels, hence, creating an increased blood pressure levels.
I think ranking the DASH diet as #1 was the best decision, the stakeholders made; high blood-pressure is one of the major causes of death as it creates cardiovascular challenges. In fact, it is projected, that high blood pressure will be the major cause of death by the year 2020. However, the major weakness of the DASH diet is that stakeholders do not engage their audience in a comprehensive discussion indicating how nutrients such as potassium and calcium aid in the reduction of high blood pressure.
Work Cited
US News. U.S.News & World Report, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://health.usnews.com/best-diet>
