DASH diet: Alcohol and caffeine

Drinking even a moderate amount of alcohol can raise blood pressure in some people. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit how often you drink and keep the amount small. That means one or fewer drinks a day. Do not drink every day. The less you drink, the better.

The DASH diet doesn't address caffeine. How caffeine affects blood pressure isn't clear. But caffeine can cause blood pressure to rise at least briefly. If you have high blood pressure or if you think caffeine affects your blood pressure, talk to your healthcare professional about having less caffeine.