In 2010, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) sponsored two studies, titled DASH and DASH-Sodium. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and the idea behind the studies was simple: find out if changes in diet can lead to a reduction in blood pressure. The studies were conducted by dividing participants into three groups. For the DASH study, members of one group ate a standard North American diet, another was placed on a similar diet with more vegetables and fruit, and one group was placed on the DASH diet. The results were fantastic. Participants in the DASH group showed a significant lowering of blood pressure and an improvement in overall health. The DASH-Sodium diet was conducted in a similar fashion. All of the groups were placed on the DASH diet, but the levels of sodium they ate varied. One group consumed the standard amount of sodium for most people, 3,300mg per day. Another consumed 2,300mg per day, and the last group had 1,500mg per day. The difference between the groups was pronounced; they all experienced an improvement in blood pressure, but the improvement was greater for those who had consumed the least salt. Obviously, these studies were great news for the NHLBI. The diet has become big news since then, winning awards from the US News and World Report five years in a row.