The Heart-Healthy Living Blog

When you’re told your cholesterol is raised, something shifts. It might not feel urgent. You might feel well. You might look well. But somewhere in the background, there’s a niggling question: Do I need to do something about this? And shortly after that often comes another question: Is investing in support actually worth it? It’s a fair question. Because if you were to buy a course, flick through it once, and leave it in a drawer, then yes - it would be expensive. If you ne

Recipe Book, 12-Week Course (Digital or Printed), or 1:1 Coaching If you’ve landed here, chances are you care about your heart health. Maybe you’ve recently been told your cholesterol is raised. Maybe you want to avoid or delay statins. Maybe you’re simply tired of conflicting advice and want something structured. Over the last few years, I’ve created different ways to work with me - not because one is “better” than the other, but because people need different levels of suppo

Cholesterol is an important part of heart health, but it does not always tell the full story. For some people, risk is influenced by factors that are not routinely measured or discussed. Lipoprotein (a), often referred to as Lp(a), is one such factor and is gaining increasing attention. It is a genetically inherited lipoprotein that behaves differently from the cholesterol markers most of us are familiar with. Let’s break it down clearly and calmly. First things first: this

Recently, I turned down what would probably have been a very lucrative opportunity. Not because it wasn’t tempting. Not because it wasn’t well presented. But because my ethics are not for sale. I will keep the details vague, but I was approached by someone entering the supplement space. They had a product that claimed to help lower cholesterol and support weight loss, and they wanted my opinion on whether it could be a good fit for my audience. On the surface, this might soun

Why I don’t personally recommend these approaches for people with raised cholesterol If you’ve been told your cholesterol is high and you’re exploring different dietary approaches, it’s very likely you’ve come across keto or carnivore diets. They’re often framed as a solution to modern health problems. Cut the carbs. Eat more fat. Simplify everything. And for some people, that message is understandably appealing. But when it comes specifically to high cholesterol , these are

If your cholesterol has crept up in your 40s or 50s and you’re sitting there staring at your blood results thinking, “But nothing’s really changed…” , you’re probably right. This is something I see all the time. Women come to me confused and frustrated because they haven’t suddenly started eating 'badly' or stopped moving, yet their numbers have shifted. They replay what they eat, how much they exercise, whether they’ve done something wrong, and often end up feeling like thei

If you’ve ever thrown yourself into a strict plan to “finally sort your health out” - only to burn out, give up, and end up back where you started - you’re definitely not the only one. Whether your goal is to lower your cholesterol, improve your fitness, lose weight, or just feel more like yourself again, it’s very easy to treat health like a sprint: New rules New habits Go harder, go faster, do it properly  this time But that “all in” approach is often the very thing that ke

Why that matters for your heart. At this time of year, you’re probably seeing and hearing a lot of “new year, new you”  messaging. New habits. New body. New rules. A complete reset. For many people, that messaging feels motivating for about a week - and then quietly crushing. Because real life doesn’t pause in January. Work is still busy (if not more so!). Family responsibilities don’t disappear. Energy levels might be low. Motivation comes and goes. So what if you didn’t nee

Bear with me, this is about to get very metaphorical. So, the vast majority of people I work with are classic all-or-nothing thinkers. They have never reached their health and fitness goals because they live in either extreme. They’re either going to the gym six days a week. Or not at all. They’re either eating nothing but lettuce leaves. Or anything and everything they can get their hands on. Essentially, they’re all in. Or they’re all out. It’s either black, or it’s white.

If December always feels like one long internal battle between “being good” and “sod it, it’s Christmas”, fear not, I'm going to help you find the middle ground. If you’re living with high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, or you’ve just hit the age where your annual blood tests have started to invoke anxiety, this pattern can feel even more stressful. You want  to enjoy yourself, but you also don’t want your health to slide. The good news? You don’t need to be

So you've got high cholesterol… and now it’s nearly Christmas. There are mince pies in every room, your inbox is full of party invitations, and there’s a permanent box of “just help yourself” chocolates in the office. Part of you is thinking " What’s the point? I’ll just start again in January.” The other part is quietly panicking that every roast potato is clogging your arteries. If that sounds familiar, you are absolutely not alone. In this blog, I want to help you: Drop th

Have you ever caught yourself saying… “I’ve ruined it now. I’ll start again on Monday. Why can’t I just stick to it like everyone else?” If so, you're not alone and you’re not the problem. You ’v e just been taught the wrong approach. In this post, I want to unpack one of the most common patterns I see as a health coach and how one client’s story (which reflects so many others) shows us what real  progress actually looks like. Because it turns out… it’s not about being perfe

If you’ve ever Googled ways to lower your cholesterol, you’ve probably come across low-carb  or keto diets . They’re often marketed as a quick fix for weight loss and blood sugar control - and it’s easy to see the appeal. But when it comes to heart health , especially if your cholesterol is high, these diets can often do more harm than good. Let’s break down why. What actually happens on a low-carb or keto diet Low-carb and keto diets drastically cut back carbohydrates - ofte

If you’re waiting for a clear run of empty months to finally “get healthy”, you’ll be waiting a long time. Real life is gloriously messy: kids’ school holidays, birthdays, work deadlines, weekends away, Christmas… and, for some, Thanksgiving too. The calendar never stops throwing curveballs and that’s exactly why now is the best time to begin. Why “easy seasons” don’t build durable habits When life feels calm, you can white-knuckle a plan. But what happens when it gets busy a

As the days get shorter and the clocks go back, many of us notice our energy dip and motivation wobble. It’s perfectly normal. Less daylight can nudge our body clocks (circadian rhythms) off course, which affects sleep, mood, and the get-up-and-go we need for walks, workouts, and cooking something nourishing. The good news? With a few small tweaks, you can feel brighter, keep your habits ticking over, and support your heart health right through the darker months. Why darker d

When it comes to lowering cholesterol and improving heart health, there’s so much information out there. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you even begin. That’s exactly why I’ve created a range of free resources designed to give you clarity, confidence, and practical steps to start making progress straight away. My Free Heart-Healthy Resources If you’re looking for trustworthy, evidence-based guidance that you can actually understand and apply, you’ll find plenty of it

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 12): Putting Knowledge into Action and Exploring Further Support Welcome to the final day of the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I have been sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog has covere

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 11): Statins and Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Balancing Medication with Lifestyle for Optimal Heart Health Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achi

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 10): Enhancing Heart-Healthy Eating with Cholesterol-Lowering Foods. Pt.2 Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog will cover one ke

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 9): Enhancing Heart-Healthy Eating with Cholesterol-Lowering Foods. Pt.1 Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog will cover one key

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 8): Addressing Alcohol, Smoking, and Stress for Optimal Cholesterol Management Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog will cover o

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 7): Harnessing the Power of Exercise and Sleep for Lowering Cholesterol Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog will cover one key

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 6): Weight Management and Its Impact on Cholesterol Levels Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog will cover one key area of heart

12 Days to Lower Cholesterol (Day 5): Optimising Protein Intake for Heart Health Welcome back to the 12 Days to Lower Cholesterol  Naturally Series If you’ve been told you have high cholesterol - or you want to protect your heart health before problems arise - you’re in the right place. Over these 12 days, I’ll be sharing clear, practical, and science-backed steps that make lowering cholesterol feel simple and achievable. Each blog will cover one key area of heart health from