With the popularity of the carnivore and ketogenic diet over the past several years, guidelines recommending limiting saturated fat has come under fire. Proponents of these diets will argue that the link between saturated fat and heart disease is weak, and that saturated fat is not harmful. Let’s explore how saturated fat increases risk, why the recommendations are to limit to it, and how to eat to get there

Atrial fibrillation, or afib, is the most common heart arrhythmia in the world. It is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat that can lead to blood clots and stroke. Unfortunately, there are more people than ever before living with afib and it has been estimated that by 2030, 12.1 million in the United States alone will be living with atrial fibrillation. Research tells us that more than half of these cases could be prevented by optimizing several risk factors. Let’s cover today what exactly atrial fibrillation is - with a particular emphasis on why atrial fibrillation occurs and what we can do to prevent it

For years, “low fat” diets were described as the optimal heart-healthy diet. Unfortunately, this over-simplistic piece of dietary guidance has become embedded in our dietary culture, and many still preach that any and all fat is unhealthy. However, we now have robust evidence that polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (mostly found in plant foods, like fresh avocado, nuts, and oils, as well as fish) support heart health compared to their counterparts, trans fats and saturated fats. Let’s explore what fats are, why some are better than others, and how we can incorporate “good” fats into our diet.

High cholesterol is the most important causal factor for atherosclerosis. Full stop. As such, we have historically placed a bright spotlight on LDL cholesterol as the bad, artery-clogging cholesterol. This is typically what has been measured clinically, serving as our primary target, as well as focused on in research trials. Recent studies, however, have moved beyond LDL cholesterol to examine more precise measures of atherosclerotic risk due to cholesterol. Literature has suggested there may be another more accurate marker for risk due to atherogenic lipoproteins and that is apolipoprotein B (aka apoB). Let’s explore why this is, the differences between LDL cholesterol and apoB, and end with a discussion on when and why you should have your ApoB level checked.

Insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance have lately become buzzwords in the news, social media, and even dinner table conversations. With the ability to keep an eye on glucose control better than ever with the plethora of direct to consumer continuous glucose monitors, these topics have made their way from the exam room and into popular culture. We also know insulin resistance is an important risk factor for a whole host of chronic conditions, including heart disease.. But what exactly is insulin resistance, the invisible culprit that can eventually result in type 2 diabetes? And what can we do about it? 

It’s well known that we should be engaging in some form of physical activity - whether it’s hitting the gym or heading to yoga class. But it’s less well understood exactly how much we should be getting, why, and what types are best for heart health. The consequences of physical inactivity are immense - linked with increased risk of basically all types of chronic disease including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cholesterol issues, coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure - this list goes on and on. When done correctly, exercise training can be one of the most powerful medications around. If you’ve ever wondered how to create the best exercise program for heart health, longevity, and wellness, read on!

As a cardiologist and cholesterol specialist, I am often asked what to do when triglycerides are high. Most of us understand what LDL cholesterol (aka “bad cholesterol”) is, but are high triglycerides bad? And what makes them go up? Elevated triglyceride levels are quite common, affecting more than one-fourth of American adults. Labeled as a “risk enhancing feature” by the American Heart Association, let’s explore how high triglycerides increase the risk for heart disease and what we can do about them.

Most of us are well aware of how vital adequate sleep is for our overall wellbeing and health. But even so, very few Americans are getting the proper amount of sleep per night. For those of us who aren’t getting enough sleep, time to listen up. Recently, the American Heart Association added sleep to their Life’s Simple 7 recommendations for optimal heart health. Let’s look at the evidence to better understand why they did so - what constitutes poor sleep (it’s not as simple as not getting enough of it!), why poor sleep might increase risk of heart disease, and how to take steps to improve sleep.

Fiber seriously feels like it has become the new buzzword. From the F factor diet to the microbiome to IBS, everyone seems to be talking about a high fiber diet (good or bad!). But what is fiber anyway? Did you know there are two different types? Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about fiber, including how much you should be getting and my favorite tips and tricks for making it happen.

From wellness experts to media outlets, many tout the health benefits of consuming red wine, claiming the heart benefits. Yet, some research indicates that alcohol consumption may be detrimental to our health by increasing risks to certain ailments like liver disease and cancer. So, what's the verdict?

You probably already know the basics of how to prevent heart attack - don’t smoke, eat nutritious food, maintain a healthy weight, and get regular exercise - but are there other things that matter? Given that as much as 80% of heart disease is preventable, identifying risks before they cause a problem is huge! We also know that even those with an elevated risk of heart disease due to genetics can reduce their risk of heart disease by adhering to healthier habits.

But above and beyond kicking that cigarette habit to the curb (which, by the way, if you haven’t yet - please get on that STAT), what specific things can we do to take our heart health to the next level? Let’s go beyond the basics and explore specific, actionable ways we can optimize our heart health

Soy, a type of legume, is quite the polarizing food. Soy is an important component in many Asian dishes, and has been consumed for thousands of years across the continent. Unfortunately, significant amounts of misinformation have been spread about soy over the last several decades, leaving many to wonder if soy is a healthy choice or not. Many have been told to stay away from soy due to the risk of breast cancer or feminizing effects, among other concerns. Let’s better understand what soy has in it - and what it doesn’t - so you can make an informed choice!

Although medications are often prescribed for hypertension, there are actually a handful of evidence-based, natural ways to lower blood pressure. Nonpharmacologic approaches can help many people to lower blood pressure into target ranges, allowing them to come off medications or reduce the dosage or number of medications they require. It can also be very effective at preventing high blood pressure in the first place! Let’s review the top 7 ways to lower blood pressure without medications.

While the benefits of consuming a whole food, plant based or plant predominant diet are well established, what is less clear is if the more processed plant based meats, such as the Impossible Burger or Beyond burger, are good for you. “Is fake meat healthy?” is one of the most common questions I get on social media and from my friends and family. They certainly have many ingredients, some of which are difficult to pronounce, so does that mean they’re bad for you?

Over the last decade, coconut oil has enjoyed increasingly popularity as the go-to healthy oil, with purported benefits ranging from burning belly fat, curbing appetite, decreasing inflammation, and improving glucose control. Recently, however, savvy consumers have had increasing concerns about how coconut oil increases cholesterol levels and, thus, their risk of heart disease. Let’s examine what coconut oil actually contains (is it really made up of medium-chain triglycerides?), how it affects our cholesterol levels, and if we should use it.

There is so much misinformation out there about what’s the best heart healthy diet. From keto to Mediterranean to Paleo, many are left confused as to what changes to make to create the ultimate cardiac diet. Whether you have a family history of heart disease, other risk factors like high cholesterol, or already have heart disease and want to avoid another heart attack, there are several major shifts you can make to decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol, waistline, and risk of heart disease.

What does a heart attack feel like? It’s important to know the most common warning signs of a heart attack, which is when the heart artery is suddenly blocked. Seeking help promptly and early improves outcomes and survival. And while the symptoms of a heart attack can differ from person to person, knowing what to look out for can save lives

Many are surprised to learn that you can actually lower cholesterol with diet. While the word “diet” often conjures up images of restricting food and yo-yo dieting, “we can use certain diets to nourish our bodies and help us treat things like high cholesterol or high blood pressure naturally with the food that we consume. In this case, we are using it in a “food is medicine” approach. One of the best studied diets to lower cholesterol is called the Portfolio diet. Let’s explore what it is and how well it can lower cholesterol.

How can we determine our individual risk for heart disease? Traditionally, doctors typically estimate your heart risk using a risk estimator or calculator, which takes into account risk factors such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other known risk factors. This gives us probabilities of heart disease, based on individuals with your similar risk factors. However, tests like the coronary artery calcium score (CAC) or coronary calcium scan can give you a better assessment of your unique, personal risk for heart disease. So what exactly is a coronary calcium scan and who should get one?