Which feature of the DASH diet is emphasized for lowering blood pressure and LDL?

Which feature of the DASH diet is emphasized for lowering blood pressure and LDL?

• A. Low sodium
• B. High sodium
• C. High sugar
• D. No fat

Answer: (A)

Reducing sodium intake is the feature emphasized by the DASH diet for lowering blood pressure. Lowering sodium decreases extracellular fluid and vascular resistance, which directly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The DASH pattern also supports improving LDL through its overall nutrient quality—more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, with less saturated fat—so LDL can improve as part of the diet, though the primary, most direct mechanism for BP comes from sodium reduction. The other options don’t fit DASH: high sodium would raise blood pressure; high sugar doesn’t target blood pressure or LDL in this dietary approach; and no fat is not a component of DASH and would be unhealthy.

Reducing sodium intake is the feature emphasized by the DASH diet for lowering blood pressure. Lowering sodium decreases extracellular fluid and vascular resistance, which directly lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The DASH pattern also supports improving LDL through its overall nutrient quality—more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, with less saturated fat—so LDL can improve as part of the diet, though the primary, most direct mechanism for BP comes from sodium reduction. The other options don’t fit DASH: high sodium would raise blood pressure; high sugar doesn’t target blood pressure or LDL in this dietary approach; and no fat is not a component of DASH and would be unhealthy.