What are the key features and health benefits of the DASH diet?

• A. Emphasizes high fat, low protein diet; increases sodium.
• B. Focus on dairy-free meals; reduces potassium.
• C. Avoids whole grains; includes high-sodium foods.
• D. Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, whole grains; reduces sodium; lowers blood pressure.

Answer: (D)

The DASH diet centers on foods that help lower blood pressure by delivering key minerals and fiber while limiting things that can raise it. It emphasizes plenty of fruits and vegetables, low‑fat dairy, lean proteins, and whole grains, with a plan to reduce sodium. This combination provides potassium, calcium, and magnesium, plus ample fiber and low saturated fat, all of which support vascular health and blood pressure control. Health benefits include significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease, with additional advantages for weight management when total calories are appropriate. The other options don’t fit because they describe patterns that either promote high fat or high sodium, omit dairy, or skip whole grains—elements that are not aligned with the DASH approach.