12 weeks of home-delivered DASH groceries with dietitian counseling reduced systolic blood pressure by 5.0 mmHg compared to a self-directed stipend group (95% CI: -8.0 to -1.9; P=0.002).
RCT (n=176)
randomized
The 2022 MGH Community Health Needs Assessment highlights housing, economic stability, and food security as critical social determinants impacting cardiometabolic and overall health in Suffolk County.
Effect estimate: Difference -5.0 mmHg (95% CI -8.0 to -1.9)
Absolute Event Rate: -7% vs -2%
p-value: p=0.002
Although a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in Black adults, this intervention has not been tested in individuals who were being actively treated for hypertension. In this study, we conducted a randomized clinical trial (GoFreshRx) to test whether local groceries ordered with the assistance of a dietitian to align with the DASH diet might lower BP among Black adult residents of Boston communities with few grocery stores who were being actively treated for hypertension. Individuals whose systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 120 mmHg to <150 mmHg despite active hypertension treatment were randomized either to 12 weeks of weekly home-delivered DASH groceries with dietitian counseling or to receiving three US500 stipends every 4 weeks. The primary outcome was research clinic-measured SBP measured at 3 months. Secondary outcomes were diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels. Maintenance of health effects was assessed at 3 months after the intervention. Of 176 participants (mean age 60. 1 (s. d. , 11. 5) years; 80. 7% female), 173 were available for SBP measurement at 3 months. Mean (s. d. ) baseline SBP/DBP was 130. 5 (7. 0) /77. 8 (8. 9) mmHg. At 3 months, SBP changed by -7. 0 mmHg in the DASH groceries group and by -2. 0 mmHg in the self-directed group (intergroup difference: -5. 0 mmHg; 95% confidence interval: -8. 0 to -1. 9; P = 0. 002). Moreover, compared to the self-directed group, 3 months of DASH groceries changed DBP by -1. 8 mmHg (-3. 6 to -0. 1) and LDL-c by -7. 0 mg dl
“We're very excited by the magnitude of the effects—it's really above and beyond what we anticipated. This study shows a real path forward for self-management among individuals with hypertension.”
Featured prominently in ACC.26 prevention sessions and May 2026 ACC magazine; high patient-impact appeal with food-as-medicine buzz (>300 social mentions).
Juraschek et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in hypertension (n=176). home-delivered DASH groceries with dietitian counseling vs. three US$500 stipends every 4 weeks (self-directed group) was evaluated on research clinic-measured systolic blood pressure at 3 months (Difference -5.0 mmHg, 95% CI -8.0 to -1.9, p=0.002). 12 weeks of home-delivered DASH groceries with dietitian counseling reduced systolic blood pressure by 5.0 mmHg compared to a self-directed stipend group (95% CI: -8.0 to -1.9; P=0.002).