Duke University Study Examines African Americans’ Adherence to the DASH Diet

Researchers at Duke University have found that African Americans are less likely than Whites to adopt or adhere to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, a program aimed at preventing and managing high blood pressure. The diet includes high portions of fruits and vegetables as well as low-fat dairy products. The DASH diet is low in fat and cholesterol.

Researchers found that African Americans were less likely than Whites to eat the recommended foods. James A. Blumenthal, professor of behavioral medicine in the department of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Duke University Medical Center, stated, “We need to be aware of cultural differences in dietary preferences in order to help people better adopt a DASH-friendly diet. It is important to take into account traditional food choices and cooking practices when attempting to incorporate more DASH foods into daily meal plans.”

The authors of the study, which was published on the website of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, conclude that African Americans may be more likely to follow DASH dietary guidelines if traditional recipes were modified to include more healthy ingredients rather than eliminating certain food choices altogether.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs