Food Delivery and Dietary Counseling Reduce Blood Pressure in Black Adults Living in Food Deserts

A grocery support program based on the low-sodium DASH eating plan that included home-delivered groceries and dietary counseling reduced blood pressure levels in Black adults living in areas where grocery stores were inaccessible or scarce, known as food deserts. People who had groceries delivered to their homes and followed guidance from a dietitian for three months had greater improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels, compared to a similar group in the same community who were given a monthly stipend to purchase groceries and plan meals on their own.

This study used the principles outlined in the low-sodium DASH eating plan, which focuses on eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, beans, nuts, and legumes, and limits fatty meats, salt, sweets, added sugars and sugary beverages. The participants who all lived in food deserts were randomly assigned to one of two groups: to receive either 12 weeks of home-delivered, DASH-patterned groceries, tailored to their individual caloric needs, and accompanied by weekly counseling with a dietitian; or three $500 stipends every 4 weeks for 12 weeks for self-directed grocery shopping with no dietary counseling.

After the 12-week program, the average systolic blood pressure measurements were improved in both groups. The systolic blood pressure levels among people in the DASH group decreased by an average of 5.7 mm Hg, compared to an average decrease of 2.2 mm Hg in the group who received a monthly stipend to buy their own groceries. Participants in the DASH group also saw a decrease in their LDL cholesterol levels (8 mg/dL) and their diastolic blood pressure measurements (2.4 mm Hg). No significant changes were found in either group's blood sugar levels or body mass index.

Study participants were monitored for an additional three months after the 12-week program ended and participants stopped receiving the grocery deliveries or monthly stipend. At the six-month mark, researchers found that participants' blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels had returned to the measures taken at the start of the study. This suggests that social barriers, such as not being able to access healthy and affordable groceries, influence nutritional choices, which impact heart disease risk.

According to the American Heart Association's 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline, normal systolic blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg. While either a higher systolic or diastolic blood pressure reading may be used to diagnose high blood pressure, the systolic blood pressure measure is a better indicator of cardiovascular disease risk for adults older than age 50.

From August 2022 to September 2025, the study enrolled 180 Black adults living in Boston-area neighborhoods with limited access to grocery stores. The average age of the study participants was 46 years; 57% were women, and 43% were men. At the beginning of the study, participants had systolic blood pressure levels ranging from 120 mm Hg to less than 150 mm Hg. People taking blood pressure-lowering medications or with a diagnosis of either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes were excluded from the study.

The research was funded by the American Heart Association's Health Equity Research Network on Hypertension. According to the American Heart Association's 2025 Food Is Medicine Scientific Statement, programs that incorporate healthy food into health care for people with or at high risk for chronic health conditions show great potential in improving diet quality, food security and health outcomes. The statement also underscores the need for additional research, such as that funded by the American Heart Association's food is medicine initiative, Health Care by Food, to evaluate the impact of nutritious food on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, as well as health outcomes.

This study had some limitations, including the short timeframe of the study period. In addition, it was conducted among people living in one geographic area, so the results may not apply to people living in other communities. The study was also limited to people who were not taking any medication for high blood pressure. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.