“Portfolio Diet” Beats DASH At Reducing Blood Pressure

A diet developed especially to lower cholesterol also fortuitously reduces blood pressure even better than the DASH diet, according to Canadian research. Scientists were taking a second look at a 2011 study of the impact of the so-called “portfolio diet” on cholesterol patients when they discovered by chance its effect on hypertension. The diet lowered blood pressure an average of two percent better than the DASH (dietary approach to stopping hypertension) diet. The diets are similar in that they de-emphasize animal proteins. But the portfolio regimen features mixed nuts, soy protein, plant sterols (from vegetable oils and leafy vegetables) and viscous fiber (from oats, barley and eggplant). DASH emphasizes fruit, vegetables and whole grains, no snack food, and less dairy.