of daily servings from various food groups. These are given in box
3 on page 8 for 2,000 calories per day. The number of servings you
require may vary, depending on your caloric need. Box 4 on page
10 gives the number of servings for 1,600, 2,600, and 3,100 calories.
The DASH eating plan used along with other lifestyle changes can
help you prevent and control blood pressure. If your blood pressure
is not too high, you may be able to control it entirely by changing
your eating habits, losing weight if you are overweight, getting
regular physical activity, and cutting down on alcohol. The DASH
eating plan also has other benefits, such as lowering LDL (“bad”)
cholesterol, which, along with lowering blood pressure, can reduce
your risk for getting heart disease.