FAQ: Grocery Support Program for Black Adults in Food Deserts and Blood Pressure Reduction

The study aimed to test whether a grocery support program providing home-delivered DASH-patterned groceries and dietitian guidance could reduce blood pressure levels in Black adults living in food deserts where grocery stores are inaccessible or scarce.

This research is significant because it demonstrates that with proper resources and support, people in food deserts can make healthy food choices that improve cardiovascular health, addressing the social barriers that typically limit access to nutritious foods in these communities.

The program provided 12 weeks of home-delivered groceries tailored to the low-sodium DASH eating plan, along with weekly counseling from a dietitian to help participants make healthy food choices using regular grocery store items.

Participants who received grocery deliveries and dietitian guidance showed greater improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels compared to those who received stipends for self-directed shopping, but these benefits disappeared within three months after the program ended.

The study was led by Dr. Stephen P. Juraschek from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard, and it was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans.

The low-sodium DASH eating plan focuses on eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, beans, nuts, and legumes while limiting fatty meats, salt, sweets, added sugars, and sugary beverages.

The intervention group received home-delivered DASH groceries and dietitian counseling, while the control group received three $500 stipends every 4 weeks for self-directed grocery shopping without dietary counseling.

The reversal of blood pressure and cholesterol improvements after support ended suggests that social barriers like limited access to affordable healthy groceries continue to influence nutritional choices and heart disease risk, highlighting the need for sustained interventions.

The research was simultaneously published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA on November 9, 2025, and presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 meeting in New Orleans.

The findings confirm that providing both healthy food access and dietary support can effectively improve cardiovascular health in food desert communities, but temporary interventions are insufficient—sustained solutions are needed to overcome persistent social barriers to healthy eating.