Cardiology Dietitian: The 5 Heart-Healthy Rules That Actually Lower LDL | Michelle Routhenstein

👇 Visit The Proof website for the full show notes and supporting studies. 👇 https://theproof.com/podcast/ Simon’s personal supplement stack: https://hub.theproof.com/supplements In this episode of The Proof, I sit down with Michelle Routhenstein, a cardiac dietitian specialising in cardiovascular disease prevention and management. Michelle works closely with cardiologists and patients at all stages, from primary prevention to post heart attack care, translating complex lipid science into practical, sustainable nutrition strategies. We unpack why heart disease remains the leading cause of death despite being largely preventable, and how confusion around cholesterol, saturated fat, carbohydrates, supplements, and dietary extremes is holding people back. Michelle explains how personalised nutrition, behaviour change, and understanding the “why” can dramatically improve cardiovascular outcomes and quality of life. What We Cover Why nutrition is still underused in cardiology, and the gap between guidelines and real-world application The most common sources of confusion around cholesterol, ApoB, carbohydrates, saturated fat, and seed oils How diet influences plaque progression, blood pressure, inflammation, and heart rhythm Why soluble fibre, unsaturated fats, and gut health matter for lowering cardiovascular risk The role of blood pressure as the most underrated and powerful heart health marker What actually changes during perimenopause and menopause, and how nutrition should adapt Why supplements rarely replace food or medication, and where they may still have a role How sustainable habits, not restrictive diets, drive long-term heart health and health span Michelle shares real clinical insights from working with patients who have reversed risk factors, stabilised disease, avoided procedures, and regained confidence in their health through evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle changes. You can learn more from Michelle Routhenstein by following her on   / heart.health.nutritionist  , connecting with her on   / michellerouthenstein  , or visiting her https://www.entirelynourished.com/ for resources and ways to work with her. Intro (00:00:00) Nutrition Is Central to Heart Health (00:01:23) Prevention vs Treatment: Where Cardiology Gets It Wrong (00:04:20) Becoming a Cardiac Dietitian (00:09:47) Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Before It Starts (00:12:39) What a Truly Heart-Healthy Diet Looks Like (00:18:53) Carbohydrates & Heart Health Explained (00:23:40) Personalized Nutrition, Biomarkers & Omega-3s (00:30:35) Cholesterol, Fats & Fiber Explained Simply (00:46:32) Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats (00:48:17) Adjusting Diets Based on Cholesterol Response (00:53:20) Seed Oil Myths & Online Nutrition Controversies (01:13:28) Sodium, Visceral Fat & Cardiometabolic Risk (01:24:56) GLP-1s, Menopause & Individualized Heart Care (01:32:27) Real Patient Transformations & The Future of Cardiac Care (01:42:43) Supplements Can Support But Not Replace Nutrition (01:49:59) Dietitians & Cardiologists Working Together (02:05:39) Subscribe and stay connected: Found this episode valuable? Subscribe to The Proof on YouTube and hit the notification bell to stay updated. Listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts? Follow the show to ensure you never miss an episode. Support the show: The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. Visit http://theproof.com/friends for exclusive discounts. If you have any additional questions you would like answered in the future, let me know in the comments. Enjoy, friends. Simon This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Head to https://38tera.com/?ref=SIMON and use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. IM8 With 92 nutrients, including Vitamin B12, Iodine, Selenium and Vitamin D, in highly absorbable forms, IM8 Daily Essentials is the perfect all-in-one daily multi-vitamin to ensure you meet your daily micronutrient needs. IM8 is offering an exclusive 10% off your first order with a free welcome kit when you enter the promo code SIMON at checkout on http://im8health.com/ Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF for $400 off at http://eightsleep.com/theproof. Try it risk-free for 30 days, with worldwide shipping. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on http://join.whoop.com/simon. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of http://theproof.com/