A new study reveals that a grocery support program providing home-delivered groceries and dietitian guidance based on the DASH eating plan significantly reduced blood pressure in Black adults living in food deserts. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. The research highlights the critical role of access to healthy food in managing cardiovascular health.
The study, published simultaneously in JAMA, compared two groups of Black adults from Boston-area neighborhoods with limited grocery access. One group received 12 weeks of home-delivered DASH-patterned groceries tailored to their caloric needs, plus weekly dietitian counseling. The other group received three $500 monthly stipends for self-directed shopping without counseling.
After the 12-week program, participants in the DASH group saw their systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 5.7 mm Hg, compared to a 2.2 mm Hg decrease in the stipend group. The DASH group also experienced reductions in LDL cholesterol (8 mg/dL) and diastolic blood pressure (2.4 mm Hg). No significant changes were noted in blood sugar or body mass index.
However, three months after the program ended, participants’ blood pressure and cholesterol levels returned to baseline. “We thought some benefits would be maintained, but without addressing social barriers like cost and access, it was challenging for participants to continue,” said lead author Stephen P. Juraschek, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School.
The study enrolled 180 Black adults with systolic blood pressure between 120 and 150 mm Hg, averaging 130 mm Hg at baseline. Excluded were those on blood pressure medications or with diabetes. The research was funded by the American Heart Association’s Health Equity Research Network on Hypertension.
The findings underscore the potential of “Food Is Medicine” programs, as highlighted in the American Heart Association’s 2025 Food Is Medicine Scientific Statement. Juraschek emphasized, “Nutrition is critical for preventing cardiovascular disease. Public health policies are needed to support healthy eating.”
The American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food initiative aims to evaluate such interventions. The study’s limitations include its short duration and geographic focus, meaning results may not generalize to other communities.
