More than 2100 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day – one death every 40 seconds. This is a tragic but not surprising statistic given the national prevalence of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes. Eighty percent of premature heart disease could be prevented through diet and lifestyle. Clinicians must be able to effectively counsel patients about the many nutritional factors that can prevent heart disease, yet few physicians feel they have adequate training in nutrition. This course provides straightforward, clinically relevant information for understanding how carbohydrates and fats affect lipids, the evidence behind low glycemic load diets, the cardio-protective effects of key micronutrients and phytochemicals, and much more. The best strategy for health and resiliency is to design a nutritional plan for patients that addresses their specific health needs while encouraging a whole food diet that does not deny them the pleasures of eating. This course will give you the knowledge and understanding necessary to do just that.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Assess the evidence for nutritional options for optimization of cardiometabolic health.
2. Describe key risk factors for heart disease in order to identify patients who could possibly benefit from dietary and lifestyle recommendations.
3. Learn the nutritional approaches for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
4. Describe the fundamental components of heart-healthy diets, including the Mediterranean and DASH diets, along with updates on ketogenic, gluten-free, and time-restricted eating patterns, among others.
5. Review macronutrients and functional foods and learn about the glycemic index and glycemic load.
6. Discuss the potential risks and benefits of dietary supplements and botanicals commonly used in the prevention and/or treatment of heart disease to help patients make better healthcare choices.
7. Identify authoritative resources for information regarding integrative approaches for the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular disease.
8. Gain the ability to help patients make better dietary and lifestyle choices.

Curriculum

• Module 1: Introduction to Nutrition & Cardiovascular Health - Key concepts and components of nutritional approaches to cardiovascular health.
• Module 2: Integrative Approaches - Key concepts and components of Integrative approaches to cardiovascular health.
• Module 3: The Role of Nutrition in Cardiovascular Health - A look at the macro- and micronutrients, beneficial foods, associated with cardiovascular health.
• Module 4: Specific Diets - A look at dietary patterns associated with cardiovascular health.
• Module 5: Nutrition and Hypertension - Nutrition as it relates to hypertension.
• Module 6: Nutrition and Dyslipdemia - Nutrition as it relates to dyslipidemia.
• Module 7: Nutrition and Metabolic Syndrome - Nutrition as it relates to metabolic syndrome.
• Module 8: Nutrition and Heart Failure - Nutrition as it relates to heart failure.
• Module 9: Clinical Applications - Interactive visit with patients experiencing cardiovascular issues.
• Course Evaluation - Complete the course evaluation then the exam to get your certificate for the course.
• Course Exam - Test to acquire continuing education credit with a passing score of 70% or better.

Completion Requirements

Complete all the course work, course evaluation, and the final test with a score of 70% or better. Upon successful completion, you will be able to print your certificate of completion.

Target Audience

This enduring material educational program is intended for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and dietitians with interest in the role of nutrition in cardiovascular health, as well as other healthcare professionals who have an interest in integrative health and medicine.

Certificate

When all of the above requirements are met (during the agreed-upon timeline), a link for the completion certificate is available to download and print anytime from "My Account." If a specific credit type was selected at registration, your certificate will indicate earned credits.

Disclaimer

This course does not constitute medical advice. Healthcare providers should exercise their own independent medical judgment.

All case studies and patient scenarios in this course are used for illustrative purposes. All depictions of persons (other than faculty) are models and not actual patients.