New research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that the DASH diet, originally designed to lower blood pressure, also reduces the risk of kidney disease. The DASH diet (short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which is known to help with weight loss, heart health and chronic disease prevention, consists of high quantities of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy and low quantities of red meat, processed meats, sweetened beverages, and sodium.
The researchers analyzed records dating back to 1987 for a group of 15,792 middle aged adults, scoring their diets based on DASH diet recommendations. They were able to track the subjects for over 20 years and found that those with low DASH scores were 16 times more likely to develop kidney disease compared to those with high DASH scores. Those who ate the highest quantities of red and processed meats increased their risk of developing kidney disease by 22 percent compared to participants who ate less of these items. High DASH scorers who maintained a normal weight had a lower kidney disease risk than overweight and obese subjects. The scientists theorize that the DASH diet’s emphasis on low acid foods and its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure could be key to its ability to protect kidney health.
Source:
Diet Designed to Lower Blood Pressure Also Reduces Risk of Kidney Disease, Medical Xpress, August 9, 2016