Culinary Medicine Program Using Herbs and Spices to Increase Vegetable Consumption Among Adults with Hypertension: A
Michelle Alcorn1, Allison Childress2, Wasiuddin Najam3
1Department of Hospitality and Retail Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP
|September 13, 2025
Summary
A 6-week virtual culinary medicine (CM) program using herbs and spices improved diet and health for adults with hypertension. This feasible program reduced sodium, calories, and fat intake while improving fiber and blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Cardiovascular Health
- Digital Health Interventions
Background:
- Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to hypertension.
- Culinary medicine (CM) integrates cooking skills with medical knowledge to promote healthier eating habits.
- There is a need for accessible interventions to manage hypertension through diet.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of an electronic CM education program for adults with hypertension.
- To evaluate the program's impact on dietary intake and health outcomes, focusing on herbs and spices.
- To determine if a virtual CM approach can enhance vegetable consumption and improve hypertension management.
Main Methods:
- A 6-week randomized controlled feasibility study involving 17 adults with hypertension.
- Participants were assigned to either an electronic CM group (e-group) or a control group (c-group).
- The e-group received online CM and nutrition education videos emphasizing herbs/spices for vegetable enhancement; dietary intake, weight, and blood pressure were monitored.
Main Results:
- The e-group demonstrated significantly lower sodium (P = .008), caloric (P = .02), and fat intake (P = .005) at one-month follow-up compared to the c-group.
- Within the e-group, significant improvements were observed in fiber intake (P = .01) and diastolic blood pressure (P = .003) from baseline to follow-up.
- The virtual CM program was feasible and well-received by participants.
Conclusions:
- A 6-week virtual culinary medicine program focusing on herbs and spices is feasible for adults with hypertension.
- The program led to modest but significant improvements in dietary behaviors, including reduced sodium, caloric, and fat intake.
- This digital health intervention shows promise for improving health outcomes in hypertensive individuals through dietary modification.
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