Book excerpt: What you choose to eat affects your chances of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension (the medical term). Studies show that blood pressure can be lowered by following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan and by eating less salt, also called sodium. While each step alone lowers blood pressure, the combination of the eating plan and a reduced sodium intake gives the biggest benefitand may help prevent the development of high blood pressure. This guide, based on the DASH research findings, tells how to follow the DASH eating plan and reduce the amount of sodium you consume. Contents: Introduction; What Is High Blood Pressure?; What Is the DASH Eating Plan?; How Do I Make the DASH?; How Can I Get Started on the DASH Eating Plan?; A Week With the DASH Eating Plan; Recipes for Heart Health Figures and tables. This is a print on demand report.