Introduction
Hypertension, CVD
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, CVD, HYPERTENSION, HYPERTENSION, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Changing unhealthy lifestyle behaviors can decrease the prevalence of individuals with high blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), contributing greatly to the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide (Several dietary approaches have been proposed to reduce BP, including the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), the low-salt diet, and the Mediterranean diet (However, in the context of preventing and treating hypertension, dietary interventions are mostly assessed individually. Yet, recent systematic reviews exploring both the DASH and Mediterranean diets have revealed that the DASH diet shows the most convincing proof of its efficacy in lowering BP (Furthermore, some of these studies use controlled and specific feeding methods to make sure participants stick to the planned diets. This is verified through close monitoring of participants during on-site meals, along with inquiries about their consumption of study foods, and the collection of urine samples. Although it is important to acknowledge that while these controlled scenarios play a critical role in assessing efficacy, they may not precisely mirror how these findings would apply to the daily circumstances of the broader population.In the realm of encouraging changes in behavior, empowerment-based methods have emerged as powerful triggers, giving citizens the freedom to steer their own choices toward healthier eating preferences (Hence, the driver to improve public health centers on spreading health information grounded in evidence, raising awareness, and empowering people to integrate personalized and suitable health-conscious behaviors into their daily routines.With this viewpoint in mind, we designed a randomized comparative trial to thoroughly examine the effectiveness of two empowerment-driven approaches. One of these strategies focused on reducing salt intake, echoing the principles of the DASH diet, while the other centered around fostering a holistic and all-encompassing healthy lifestyle regimen. This latter approach incorporated guidance aligned with the core principles of the Mediterranean dietary pattern.These educational efforts were carefully designed to enhance participants’ understanding of beneficial lifestyle practices. Moreover, the programs provided participants with practical resources to help them adopt new habits. This comprehensive toolkit encompassed strategies for embracing wholesome cooking practices and making well-informed choices when buying food. Essentially, our main goal was to determine which of these empowerment-focused methods would prove to be the more effective driver in nurturing health-oriented dietary habits and achieving reductions in BP across the broader population.