The Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation Nutrition Program

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Desk C5
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: (216) 444-9353 or toll-free (800) 223-2273, ext. 49353

Melissa Ohlson, M.S., R.D., L.D.

The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center Preventive Cardiology Nutrition Program is based on scientific research and national recommendations. We believe that diet and lifestyle management is at the foundation of heart disease risk reduction. Our nutritional guidelines are based on extensive epidemiological and clinical research involving diet patterns associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. These dietary recommendations include those established by the American Heart Association and National Cholesterol Education Program, yet are broadened to include and emphasize cardio-protective, health-enhancing foods such as unrefined grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. These dietary patterns have been linked to a reduction in coronary disease risk as well as other debilitating conditions such as cancer, obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

Nutrition recommendations in Preventive Cardiology are unique to an individual’s health needs, lifestyle and goals. Incorporating a variety of cardio-protective, plant-based foods set the stage for prevention. We believe prevention of heart disease can be achieved when the following life strategies are emphasized:

• Achieving or maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Reducing cardiovascular risk factors.
• Minimizing saturated and trans fat
• Optimizing unsaturated fat food sources
• A special emphasis on omega-3 fatty acid foods and plant-proteins.
• Enhancing the whole foods concept for the greatest cardio-protective benefits
• Engaging in a regular physical activity regimen.

Preventive Cardiology Nutrition Program offers a wide-array of resources to help our patients enhance their overall health and maximize their reduction of heart disease.

Nutrition services include:

• Julia Zumpano, R.D.

  Individualized goal setting and nutrition counseling. This includes a thorough nutrition assessment utilizing your nutritional history, medical history, body mass index, risk factor evaluation, and lab work as needed. This service can be obtained in one of two ways.
  1. Face to face interaction in our Main Campus Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation clinic. Call 216-444-9353 to schedule an appointment.
     
  2. In the comfort of your own home, via our new eNutrition Counseling - a web-based nutrition counseling program - http://www.eclevelandclinic.org/nutrition
     
• Educational Materials. We offer a variety of educational handouts and materials to support healthy eating, grocery shopping, food preparation and dining out (link to web information). We are continuing to strive to provide the most up-to-date materials to our patients.
  
• Cooking classes and recipes
  
• Nutrition research. We participate in and actively seek out nutrition oriented research activities to help us learn more about the role of nutrition in disease prevention.
  
• Corporate consultation. We provide corporate lectures and nutritional expertise to corporations all over the country. We can also provide assistance to grocery stores to help with marketing healthful foods and educating consumers on healthful food choices.
  
• Community Education. We provide a wide variety of community health talks, attend health fairs, and engage in media interviews for local and national television stations, newspapers, magazines and journals.

Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation Program
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Desk C5
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
(216) 444-9353

© Copyright 2005-2008 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved. rev. 2/08