Nonpharmacologic measures have been increasingly applied to the management of patients with essential hypertension (EH). In this report, we review the published literature concerning dietary factors and blood pressure. Specifically, the impact of manipulations of dietary sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium on blood pressure are considered. The data support a beneficial role for calcium supplementation and sodium restriction and lesser roles for potassium supplementation in at least some hypertensive individuals. At this time, no dietary alteration can be recommended for broad application to the population as a whole.