Advertisements

Why the DASH Diet for Girls

Teenage girls are constantly under pressure to adhere to a specific body type. Print and television advertising always promote the most attractive women as slender,in good physical condition and concerned about their appearance. That is why for some teenage girls weight loss is the most important thing on their mind,even more important than their health. Because of the importance of their physical appearance,some girls’even turn towards purging their food. This leads to such unhealthy conditions as anorexia and bulimia that teenagers use to attain their desired figure.

Of course anorexia and bulimia are unhealthy alternatives to maintaining a healthy weight and eating patterns. Luckily,teenage girls weight loss has been given a boost in a different from,something that has had unexpected benefits,the DASH diet for girls.

Free Tape Measure Woman Waistline Healthy Living Stock Photo Creative CommonsOriginally the DASH diet was not created for teenage girls,matter of fact it was created for adults with high blood pressure,but just because it was not created for girls does not mean it does not yield great results.

With so much processed food,it is not surprising that human beings are gaining weight rapidly,the DASH diet for girls puts the emphasis back on healthy eating. It focuses on high consumption of such tried and true healthy products as fruits,whole grains,vegetables,fruit,lean chicken,fish and low-fat dairy products. These are all food items that fit within a proper diet.

There have been several studies that have shown that the DASH diet,which has been promoted by the American Heart Association for quite some time,helps people to reduce their blood pressure. However,the DASH diet for girls also has the added and proven benefit that those girls who most closely adhered to the DASH diet guidelines had the lowest increase in their Body Mass Index (BMI) over a 10 year study.

Not only does the DASH diet for girls keep young girls slender in a healthy and structured way,but also as they mature they are going to benefit from an overall increase in health when compared to their contemporary counterparts.

Over 17% of all American children are overweight;with the DASH diet for girls,it helps young women not only understand a balanced diet that is going to help them stay or become slim now,but it will also lead to less health problems in the foreseeable future.

Creative Commons License photo credit:Pink Sherbet Photography

What is the DASH Diet

veggie pasta bentoThe DASH Diet is a diet that is based on the research for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It has been proven,through research,to lower blood pressure,reduce cholesterol,and to improve insulin sensitivity.  DASH isn’t just another low salt,low sodium diet.  It uses an diet plan that is proven to lower blood pressure that includes lots of fruits,vegetables,and low to no fat dairy.  DASH also uses an emphasis on whole grains and less refined grains and is loaded with potassium,magnesium,calcium,and fiber.

As a dietary plan for the treatment of hypertension,the DASH diet is recommended by many institutions,such as the National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute,the American Heart Association,and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  It is also a part of the US Guidelines for treatment of high blood pressure,and was used to help form the basis for the new USDA MyPyramid.

Unlike some highly restrictive diets,the DASH diet was designed to be flexible and to meet the lifestyle and preferential dietary needs of most dieters.  It has sometimes been compared to the Mediterranean diet,as they both contain many of the same healthy foods.

Specific DASH Diet recommendations:

The diet makes the following recommendations for servings in a 2000 calorie daily diet.

  • 7-8 servings of Grains (Including at least 3 servings of Whole Grains)
  • 4-5 servings of Fruit
  • 4-5 servings of Vegetables
  • 2-3 servings of Low-Fat or Non-Fat Dairy
  • 2 or fewer servings of Lean Meats (Including fish and poultry)
  • 4-5 servings per week of Nuts,Seeds,and Legumes
  • 2-3 servings of Fats and Oils
  • 5 or fewer servings of Sweets and Added Sugars

The DASH diet is a healthy way of eating.  Lowering blood pressure is only one of the health benefits that it offers.  It may also offer benefits in the form of protection against bone loss (osteoporosis),cancer,stroke,heart disease,and diabetes.  The diet is not a weight-loss program,but many users reported having lost unwanted pounds as it helped guide them towards healthier meals and snacks.

Creative Commons License photo credit:gamene