The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet has been shown to be effective in multiple clinical trials, but adhering to any diet in the long term can be difficult. There are several studies that show that adherence to the DASH diet over periods longer than 12 weeks is poor. Finding ways to help people sustain the diet plan is crucial to maintaining the positive changes it might produce on blood pressure, body weight, and type 2 diabetes.[1][2][3]
The DASH diet might not be appropriate for people with certain health conditions. In people with kidney disease, the DASH diet could lead to dangerously high levels of potassium in the blood. This risk is also increased in people who use diuretic medications, such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), which increase potassium levels. The same is true for people with chronic liver disease.[4]
In people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the DASH diet might be a good option to control blood pressure and assist with weight loss, but it may be too high in carbohydrates to recommend to all people with T2D. Close glucose monitoring is necessary, and in some cases following a modified DASH diet with a lower carbohydrate intake may be more appropriate.[4]