Q. I have high blood pressure but my medicine raises my uric acid levels and triggers gout flare-ups. I’ve heard that the DASH diet could bring my blood pressure down and might be good against gout too. What is this diet?
A. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The first scientific study of this approach (a diet rich in vegetables and fruits and low in fat and meat) was published 15 years ago (New England Journal of Medicine, April 17, 1997). It lowers blood pressure nearly as well as medication, and also helps reduce uric acid (Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Dec. 2010).
You can learn more details on the DASH diet and other ways to control blood pressure naturally in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.
