If you've heard of the DASH diet repeatedly, you might be wondering, “What is the DASH diet?”

It is a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, low in carbohydrates, with moderate amounts of protein and without additives, preservatives, snack foods, and foods that are high in calories but low in nutritional value.

The DASH diet emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle to achieve an optimal weight as well as eliminate many of the health problems that plague us.

Most of these health issues are a result of a very poor diet rich in additives, preservatives, and calories, and low in nutrients.

Follow our included 1,200-calorie DASH diet meal plan to help lower your blood pressure, lose weight and prevent diabetes. With 7 full days of healthy breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner recipes, this plan makes it easy to eat healthy.

Research has found that diet affects the development of high blood pressure, or hypertension (the medical term). Recently, two studies showed that following a particular eating plan—called the DASH diet—and reducing the amount of sodium consumed lowers blood pressure. While each step alone lowers blood pressure, the combination of the eating plan and a reduced sodium intake gives the biggest benefit and may help prevent the development of high blood pressure.

Enjoy this DASH Diet Guide with 7-day meal plan.