Adult High Cholesterol
"I've cared for patients recovering from open-heart surgery, helped adults reduce their risk for diabetes and heart disease, and guided hundreds of individuals through personalized nutrition counseling. My goal is to help you improve your cholesterol, protect your heart, and build habits that support your health for years to come."
High Cholesterol Doesn't Always Have a Simple Explanation
Did your doctor tell you your cholesterol is high... and now you're wondering how it happened?
Many of the people I work with tell me:
"I thought I was eating healthy."
"Heart disease runs in my family. Is there anything I can actually do?"
"My doctor wants me to start a statin, but I'd really like to try improving it naturally first."
"I'm taking a statin. Could improving my nutrition reduce my long-term reliance on medication if my doctor feels it's appropriate?"
The truth is, high cholesterol is often much more complex than simply eating too much fat.
Genetics, family history, hormones, diabetes, thyroid disorders, certain medications, menopause, weight changes, physical activity, stress, and nutrition can all influence your cholesterol levels. Sometimes cholesterol rises despite your best efforts, leaving you frustrated and confused.
My goal is to help you understand why your cholesterol may be elevated and create a personalized, evidence-based plan that's realistic, sustainable, and designed around your lifestyle—not another restrictive diet.
Finally Understand Your Lab Results
One of the things my clients appreciate most is finally understanding what their cholesterol numbers actually mean.
Rather than simply hearing your cholesterol is "high," we'll review your lab work together so you understand what's driving your results and where to focus your efforts.
Together we'll discuss:
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LDL ("bad") cholesterol
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HDL ("good") cholesterol
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Triglycerides
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Total cholesterol
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Non-HDL cholesterol
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Cardiovascular risk factors
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How genetics, nutrition, hormones, medications, and medical conditions may be influencing your cholesterol
You'll leave understanding your numbers—not just memorizing them.
Want to Avoid a Statin—or Get the Most From Your Medication?
Many of my clients come to me hoping to improve their cholesterol through nutrition before starting medication. Others are already taking a statin and want to further improve their cholesterol, reduce their cardiovascular risk, or see if lifestyle improvements may support future medication decisions in partnership with their physician.
Nutrition therapy can have a meaningful impact on cholesterol levels, but it isn't a replacement for medication for everyone. If medication is appropriate based on your individual cardiovascular risk, I'll help you build sustainable nutrition and lifestyle habits that work alongside your treatment plan while supporting your long-term heart health.
Together We'll Work On
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Understanding your cholesterol numbers and cardiovascular risk
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Lowering LDL cholesterol through realistic nutrition strategies
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Increasing heart-healthy fiber
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Choosing fats that support cardiovascular health
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Building balanced meals that fit your lifestyle
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Understanding food labels without feeling overwhelmed
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Navigating dining out, holidays, travel, and social events
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Weight management when appropriate
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Creating sustainable habits you can maintain long-term
Collaborative Care
When appropriate, I'm happy to collaborate with your primary care provider, cardiologist, endocrinologist, or other healthcare professionals to ensure we're working together toward your health goals.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
Improving your cholesterol isn't about eating perfectly or giving up every food you enjoy.
It's about understanding your body, knowing what truly moves the needle, and creating a plan that's realistic enough to maintain for years—not just a few weeks.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, hoping to delay or avoid medication when medically appropriate, taking a statin and wanting to optimize your heart health, managing genetically high cholesterol, or simply wanting to better understand your lab work, I'll meet you where you are.
You deserve more than a handout that says, "Eat less fat."
You deserve personalized guidance, clear explanations, and a nutrition plan tailored specifically to your life—so you can feel confident you're making choices that support your heart for years to come.
A Special Focus on Women's Heart Health
While I work with adults of all ages and backgrounds, many women seek my help after noticing changes in their cholesterol during perimenopause or menopause.
As estrogen naturally declines, LDL ("bad") cholesterol often increases while the body's ability to process cholesterol changes. Unfortunately, many women are never told these hormonal changes can affect their heart health. Instead, they often leave their appointment wondering what they did wrong.
If this sounds familiar, you're certainly not alone. Together, we'll discuss how hormones, nutrition, exercise, body composition, and other lifestyle factors work together so you understand what's happening inside your body and what steps are most likely to help.
Why Work With Me?
Throughout my career, I've worked with individuals across every stage of cardiovascular health.
I spent five years as a Clinical Dietitian in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU), caring for patients recovering from open-heart surgery and teaching heart-healthy nutrition classes. I later spent three years in a specialized Diabetes Center, helping adults improve their cholesterol, blood sugars, weight, and overall cardiovascular health.
Today, I continue that work through personalized one-on-one nutrition counseling in my private practice.
My experience has taught me that improving cholesterol isn't about perfection or eliminating every food you love. It's about understanding your body, making informed decisions, and building habits you can realistically maintain for life.
Whether your goal is lowering LDL cholesterol, improving triglycerides, preventing heart disease, supporting a healthy lifestyle while taking medication, or simply understanding your lab work, I'm here to provide personalized, evidence-based guidance every step of the way.
