When her doctor told her she had elevated LDL cholesterol at just 39, Brielle Maddox felt blindsided.
“I thought I was eating healthy,” she says. “But apparently, not healthy enough for my heart.”
Determined not to go on medication immediately, Brielle reached out to a dietitian and started researching expert-backed plans. What she found changed everything.
“I’d been focused on low-fat and low-calorie, but I was missing key nutrients,” she says.
The new plan emphasized soluble fiber, healthy fats, and plant sterols—along with cutting back on refined carbs and added sugars.
Her daily routine changed. Breakfast became oats with ground flax and berries. Lunch was a veggie-packed soup with barley.
Dinner might include salmon, quinoa, and roasted broccoli with a drizzle of olive oil.
She also discovered that timing mattered. “I used to skip meals and snack a lot,” she says. “Now I eat more balanced meals, less often—and I feel full and satisfied.”
Within four months, her cholesterol numbers dropped significantly. Her energy improved. And best of all, the diet felt natural and sustainable.
“I don’t feel like I’m on a ‘heart plan’ anymore,” Brielle says. “I’m just eating in a way that supports every part of me—including my heart.”
