Spotlight on Prevention of Hypertension: A Canadian perspective on dietary factors
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease; its prevalence is a major health concern. In Canada, hypertension affects almost one in five people, and is an important – but modifiable – factor in disease and early death.
Lifestyle factors such as body weight, physical activity and diet play important roles in the prevention and management of hypertension, with weight reduction and the DASH diet (high in fruit, vegetables and milk products) having the greatest potential for lowering blood pressure.
While reducing dietary salt can lower blood pressure, particularly as we age, the potential decrease is modest. Given the high incidence of hypertension with aging, even small reductions in hypertension can have a significant public health impact; therefore, national strategies to reduce salt intake are underway. On an individual basis, however, dietary salt reductions alone may not be enough if overall diet quality is poor. Consequently, nutrition education strategies should focus on lifestyle modifications known to improve blood pressure, particularly weight management and the DASH diet.
To learn more: Spotlight on Hypertension
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Keywords: spotlight on nutrition, salt, dietary factors, hypertension, dash diet, sodium
Spotlight on nutrition
A Canadian perspective on the dietary factors in the prevention of hypertension.
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