What tip Heart Health Month often leaves out and how food can help
A cardiologist breaks down the role of food in heart health and explains why small, consistent habits may help support cholesterol alongside medical care.
Kasey Caminiti- Cardiologists suggest that daily food choices are a key, but often overlooked, part of heart health.
- Small, consistent dietary changes can be more effective for long-term heart health than drastic overhauls.
- Cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Klodas founded Step One Foods to provide clear, food-based guidance for managing cholesterol.
Every February, Heart Health Month brings a wave of important reminders like know your numbers, understand your risks, schedule checkups and more. But one question often goes unanswered:
What can I actually do on a daily basis to support my heart health?
While screenings and medications are essential tools, cardiologists suggest that there’s another piece of the heart health puzzle that doesn’t always get enough airtime, and it is the food you eat every day.
That’s the gap cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC, set out to close when she founded Step One Foods, a brand built to translate heart health research into achievable and sustainable daily habits. Dr. Klodas created Step One Foods after repeatedly watching patients get told to “watch their cholesterol” without clear guidance on how to actually do that.
Clinical research shows diet can affect cholesterol faster than many expect. Here’s how to use food to support your heart health in February.
Explore food-first heart health supportWhat Heart Health Month often leaves out
Much of February’s messaging focuses on risk, warning signs and medication. All super important topics, but they can leave adults wondering what they can do right now. A food‑first approach offers people clarity and confidence rather than fear. And with adults 50+ increasingly seeking calm, evidence‑based wellness recommendations, February is an ideal time to highlight practical steps rather than overwhelming guidelines.
Some key points cardiologists like Dr. Klodas wish more adults knew:
- Early momentum helps. Seeing improvement, even small, can build confidence and adherence.
- Food doesn’t need to be drastic to be effective. Consistency matters more than perfection.
- You don’t have to overhaul your entire diet. Small swaps can lead to meaningful improvements over time.
- Medication and food are not opposites. Many people benefit from both.
A simple place to start
If you’re looking for a realistic entry point this February, Step One Foods offers a 30-Day Starter Pack, which includes a variety of the brand’s clinically studied foods. It’s built as an easy way to try a consistent daily routine without the guesswork.
Explore the Step One Foods 30-Day Starter Pack
Discover more heart-focused food choices from Step One Foods
When it comes to supporting heart health, many adults assume that dietary changes require extreme restriction. But cardiologists often emphasize predictable, repeatable habits.
That’s part of why Step One Foods has resonated with adults looking for a supportive on‑ramp instead of a full diet overhaul. The brand’s foods including bars, smoothies, oatmeals and even pancake mixes are formulated based on published clinical research and designed to be used twice a day.
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