Food Delivery and Dietary Counseling Program Shows Promise in Reducing Blood Pressure for Black Adults in Food Deserts

A grocery support program combining home-delivered groceries with dietary counseling based on the low-sodium DASH eating plan resulted in significant blood pressure reductions for Black adults living in food deserts, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025. The study, which enrolled 180 Black adults from Boston-area neighborhoods with limited grocery store access, found that participants receiving both grocery deliveries and dietitian guidance achieved nearly three times greater blood pressure improvement compared to those who received only financial stipends for self-directed shopping.

Participants in the intervention group experienced an average systolic blood pressure reduction of 5.7 mm Hg, compared to 2.2 mm Hg in the control group that received monthly $500 stipends without nutritional counseling. The DASH group also showed improvements in LDL cholesterol levels, decreasing by 8 mg/dL, and diastolic blood pressure measurements, which dropped by 2.4 mm Hg. These findings are particularly significant given that study participants began with an average systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg, above the normal range of less than 120 mm Hg according to the American Heart Association's 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline available at https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure.

The research, funded by the American Heart Association's Health Equity Research Network on Hypertension and simultaneously published in JAMA, highlights the critical role of addressing social determinants of health. Lead author Stephen P. Juraschek, M.D., Ph.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, noted that the study's real-world approach distinguishes it from previous research conducted in laboratory settings. "This study is significant because it is focused on helping people eat healthier, more nutritious foods they can purchase in a regular grocery store," Juraschek explained.

However, the study revealed a concerning trend when researchers followed participants for three months after the program ended. Both blood pressure and cholesterol levels returned to pre-study measurements once grocery deliveries and stipends ceased. "Without addressing these social barriers, it may have been challenging for participants to continue eating healthier foods even after receiving counseling about the impact of diet on high blood pressure and cholesterol," Juraschek observed. This finding underscores the persistent challenges of food access and affordability that characterize food deserts.

The research aligns with the American Heart Association's Food Is Medicine initiative, known as Health Care by Food, which evaluates how nutritious food interventions can improve cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. According to the Association's 2025 Food Is Medicine Scientific Statement, programs incorporating healthy food into health care show great potential for improving diet quality and health outcomes, particularly for people at high risk for chronic conditions. More information about this initiative is available at https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/health-care-by-food.

The study's implications extend beyond individual health outcomes to broader public health policy considerations. "Nutrition is a critical component of preventing cardiovascular disease. Everyone should be able to access healthy foods, and public health programs and policies are needed to promote and support healthy eating habits in the United States," Juraschek emphasized. The temporary nature of the improvements suggests that sustainable solutions require addressing underlying structural barriers to food access rather than providing short-term interventions alone.