The DASH Diet – How to Stick to the Diet
The DASH Diet is a dietary plan designed for people who are overweight or obese. This low carb diet is popular because it provides you with an alternative to the low carb high protein diets that are so prevalent these days. In fact, if you do not know much about the DASH Diet, then you are in for a big surprise. This diet is all about combining the benefits of the best low carb diet around with some of the rules that we all follow as far as nutrition is concerned. If you want to learn more about the DASH Diet, here is your guide to the perfect plan:
*DASH stands for Dietary Approaches for Stopping Hypertension. The DASH diet is all about lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure. This is achieved by limiting the amount of saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium that you are eating. For instance, if you are eating fast food twice a week, you would be consuming more saturated fat than you normally would. You can lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems by following the DASH Diet. You should also make sure that you are getting plenty of calcium and other minerals, which are required for good health.
*DASH Diet recommends avoiding high calorie foods as much as possible. Fast food restaurants are a great example of high calorie foods. If you are constantly buying fast food on your way to work, then you are contributing to your weight problem. Even if you think that you eat healthy, you might not be. You might be taking in some calories that you are not even aware of every day. You should aim to limit the amount of calories that you are consuming and ensure that you are eating healthy, low fat foods at the same time.
*DASH Diet also limits the amount of carbohydrates that you are consuming. For many people, this can be a difficult subject to follow, especially if you have been used to eating a lot of carbohydrates in your diet. However, the DASH Diet discourages you from eating too many carbohydrates as this can cause weight gain and even put you at risk for diabetes. Therefore, if you do want to stick with the DASH Diet, make sure that you are eating low carbohydrates as well. For instance, try eating leafy green vegetables instead of fries. Eat more whole grain breads and pasta and less white rice and pasta.
*DASH Diet restricts certain foods that contain trans fats. Trans fats are considered to be bad for your health. Since your body needs fat to function, when you consume too much trans fat, you can gain weight and even damage your arteries.
*DASH Diet also restricts the amount of saturated fat that you are consuming. The DASH Diet recommends eating unsaturated fats. These include Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, olive oil and flaxseed oil. You can get these nutrients from high-quality salmon, nuts, olives and dark chocolate.
*DASH Diet also restricts the amount of saturated fat that you are consuming. This includes butter, cream and mayonnaise. Instead, you are recommended to eat healthy fats such as avocado and canola oil. This can be a healthier alternative than olive oil, as they are high in monounsaturated fats.
*DASH Diet encourages you to reduce your sugar intake. Too much sugar can cause weight gain, which can also put your body at risk for diseases. However, you can still eat your favorite foods since you still need some form of sugar to fulfill your daily energy requirements.
