Suppose medical scientists discovered a way to significantly lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure—without any pills, surgery, or fancy gimmicks. Well, they have. It is focused on controlling or preventing high blood pressure, or hypertension—a major risk factor for many health problems—by improving dietary habits.

Called DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, this diet involves eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products—about twice the average amount consumed by many Americans—and taking a cautious approach to

meat and fats. Medical researchers recently discovered that DASH not only helps control hypertension—as well as drugs do in many cases-but it may also help prevent this life-threatening condition.

The DASH diet requires no special foods, mixes, or weekly meetings. All it takes is a commitment to eat lots of grains, fruits, and vegetables. Also important: consuming enough low-fat dairy products and keeping an eye on the amount of meat and fat in the diet. If you think this sounds like a lot to bite off, start by making small changes in your diet. Then, move toward DASH diet recommendations over time.