It primarily limits cholesterol and saturated fat while focusing in the increased consumption of foods packed with fiber, protein and micro-nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and potassium that can help in lowering blood pressure.The DASH diet provided about 3000 mg of sodium/day, and amount only slightly less than the typical intake in the United States.
Most of the foods that are recommended have a very limited amount of sodium, and so should decreased intake of salt. When sodium content of this diet was lowered, there was an even greater reduction in blood pressure.
Lowering sodium also reduced blood pressure in the group consuming a typical American diet. With sodium, the DASH diet actually has two different types of recommendations. The regular DASH diet suggests limiting sodium intake to 2.300 mg daily, which it should be able to meet this goal without too much difficulty.
The alternative suggestion is a lower version of the diet reduces sodium consumption to 1,500 mgs a day and is even more effective for those sensitive to salt, including middle-aged to elderly adults, and who already have high blood pressure.
Sodium in DASH diet
