DASH DIet

I am a 30 yr old male.  I wiegh 185 lbs and have had high blood pressure for the past 3-4 years.  My blood pressure usually runs about 140/90 - 150/95.  I have never really been a healthy eater and live mostly a sedentary lifestyle (aside from chasing my kids around).  

I have been trying to eat a low sodium diet lately and am really getting into it.  I have been trying to do the DASH diet for hypertension, however it seems like much of the diet revolves around weight loss.  I have never been overweight so I am trying to eat good low sodium meals with the DASH diet, but without losing weight.  Any suggestions on what I can do to still eat with maintain my weight, but lower my blood pressure? I have become very determined to get on an exercise program too and I feel very optimistic about getting myself healthy.

Thank you

[Renee Radenberg]

It is great you want to get healthy and try the DASH diet! You did not state your height so I an unable to determine if you are within your weight range for your height. From your question I am also not sure in what form you received the DASH diet - a booklet, or amounts of calories as per day as per your weight, etc. For a 30 year old you can eat appropriately 2000-2200 calories per day to maintain your weight. After 50 years old you should lower your calorie intake to 1900 a day due to aging. The reason the diet is for weight loss is due to the relationship of weight gain to increased blood pressure. The loss of weight does help keep the blood pressure down as do medication. If the information you have on the DASH diet gives you a break down of calories then consume the 2000-calorie range and you will not lose weight. Thank you for your question.