Heart Health Episodes

"What’s good for the heart is good for the brain." Can better cholesterol management in midlife actually lower your patient’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease? In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Josh Wageman, PhD, PA-C, a clinical lipid specialist who studied cholesterol disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease. Together, we unpack how cholesterol, APOB, APOE4, insulin resistance, and statins intersect with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, and what clinicians can...

What happens when a dietitian and a PA sit down to talk about heart disease—from both sides of the exam room? In this episode, Colleen brings together two heart health experts: Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, a cardiovascular dietitian known for her evidence-based prevention strategies, and Josh Wageman, PA-C, PhD, a clinical lipid specialist who’s spent his career studying cholesterol disturbances and Alzheimer’s. Together, they tackle one of medicine’s most common (and confusing) topic...

Your patient says, “My neighbor’s on the carnivore diet and looks amazing. Should I try it?” Cue the internal panic. What do you actually say next? In this episode, Clinical Lipid Specialist Dr. Josh Wageman returns to unpack the dietary chaos surrounding lipids, low-carb diets, saturated fat, and the ever-elusive “best diet.” Whether your patient wants to reverse metabolic syndrome or just “get their cholesterol down,” this conversation will help you separate hype from evidence—and teach you h...

You’ve probably said it a hundred times: HDL is the "good" cholesterol, LDL is the "bad" cholesterol. But what if that explanation is oversimplified—and leading patients (and providers) to miss hidden risks? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Josh Wageman—a Clinical Lipid Specialist, PhD researcher, and author of The Home Security System and the Lipid Neighborhood—to break down why the old-school lipid model isn’t enough anymore, what a standard panel won’t tell you, and how you can explain...

Send Colleen a Text Message What’s the deal with eggs? Are they good? Bad? Do they impact my cholesterol levels? How many can I eat? Welcome to Exam Room Nutrition's Summer Shorts - bite-sized nutrition science delivered in less 15 minutes, so you can stay sharp without sacrificing those summer barbecues. Fill out this form to have your question featured on a future episode. Grab your sunglasses and sunscreen, because today Colleen is unpacking Eggs: a breakfast staple. We've all heard the co...

Send Colleen a Text Message Welcome to the first episode of Exam Room Nutrition's Summer Shorts - bite-sized nutrition science delivered in less 15 minutes, so you can stay sharp without sacrificing those summer barbecues. Grab your sunglasses and sunscreen, because today Colleen unpacks the science behind a summertime staple - deli meat! Is deli meat bad for me? We'll dive into the research on processed meats and cancer risk, explore the nitrate debate, and most importantly, equip you with pra...

Send Colleen a Text Message In honor of American Heart Month, I am joined by Registered Dietitian, Michelle Rothenstein, to share invaluable insights and practical tips for healthcare providers to support patients with cardiovascular disease. From deciphering cholesterol levels to navigating popular diets like keto and carnivore, Michelle breaks down complex nutritional concepts into actionable advice. Key Takeaways: Understanding the nuances of cholesterol levels and how dietary choices impact...

Send Colleen a Text Message Join Colleen and the heart dietitian, Kiran Campbell, as we unpack the basics of a heart-healthy diet. Having a cardiac event is life-changing, not only for the patient, but for their loved ones too. Telling the patient to "just follow a cardiac diet" is not helpful and doesn't lead to lasting changes that will protect the patient from having a recurrent cardiac event. In today's episode, we break down the components of a cardiac diet so that you can help your patient...