According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups.Your primary care provider or specialists might refer you to a Registered Dietitian if your blood work shows you have high cholesterol or elevated triglycerides.

The two types of cholesterol are: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and High-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease or stroke.While HDL is referred to as “good” cholesterol because high levels of it can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy. If a person has elevated triglycerides with low HDL (good) cholesterol or elevated triglycerides with high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels there is an increase risk of heart attack and stroke.

Heart health is about more than eating “healthy foods” - its about understanding that dietary changes can be made to help improve someones overall heart health.

Your Registered Dietitian will review your blood work with you and provide recommendations to help lower levels such as cholesterol and triglycerides and raise good cholesterol levels. Our goal in creating dietary changes is also to minimize risk of future complications such as heart attack and strokes.