The DASH Diet

Diet and nutrition Diet and meal planning DASH diet

The DASH Diet helps manage high blood pressure and kidney disease with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Discover more about its benefits.

What is the DASH Diet?
Who is the DASH diet for?
Example DASH diet for a 2,000 calorie diet

Today’s leading health organizations are heartily endorsing the DASH Diet for the informed health-conscious diner. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet has been recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and approved by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, The American Heart Association, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and also forms the basis for the USDA MyPyramid.

What is the DASH Diet?

The DASH Diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts. It is low in salt and sodium, added sugars and sweets, fat and red meats.

Learn more about the DASH Diet

Get tips to tackle the DASH Diet

Check out a sample 3-day DASH Diet Meal Plan

Who is the DASH diet for?

The DASH diet is a recognized treatment for hypertension, heart disease, and kidney disease and can slow the progression of heart and kidney disease. If you already have chronic kidney disease, you should speak with your doctor and dietitian before starting any new diets as you may have special restrictions to consider. The DASH diet should not be used by people on dialysis. Individuals on dialysis have special dietary needs that should be discussed with a registered dietitian.

Example DASH diet for a 2,000 calorie diet

Food Group	Daily Servings	Serving Size
Grains¹	6–8	1 Slice bread 1 oz dry cereal² ½ cup cooked rice, pasta, or cereal
Vegetables	4–5	1 cup raw leafy vegetable ½ cup cut-up raw or cooked vegetable ½ cup vegetable juice
Fruits	4–5	1 medium fruit ¼ cup dried fruit ½ cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit ½ cup fruit juice
Fat–free or low–fat milk and milk products	2–3	1 oz milk or yogurt 1 ½ oz cheese
Lean meats, poultry, and fish	6 or less	1 oz cooked meats, poultry, or fish 1 egg
Nuts, seeds, and legumes	4–5 per week	1/3 cup or 1 ½ oz nuts 2 Tbsp peanut butter 2 Tbsp or ½ oz seeds ½ cup cooked legumes (dry beans and peas)
Fats and oils	2–3	1 tsp soft margarine 1 tsp vegetable oil 1 Tbsp mayonnaise 2 Tbsp salad dressing
Sweets and added sugars	5 or less per week	1 Tbsp sugar 1 Tbsp jelly or jam ½ cup sorbet, gelatin 1 cup lemonade

^{1. Whole grains are recommended for most grain servings as a good source of fiber and nutrients.
2. Serving sizes vary between ½ cup and 1 ¼ cups, depending on cereal type. Check the product's Nutrition Facts label.}

Looking for nutrition guidance? Contact a CKD dietitian in your area.

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This content is provided for informational use only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for the medical advice of a healthcare professional.