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New data from The Harris Poll from Step One Foods reveals a striking disconnect in how Americans and their doctors view diet’s impact on heart health. While nearly nine in ten adults (89%) believe food can be as powerful as medicine, only six percent know that cholesterol levels can be lowered through diet alone in just 30 days.
The same gap exists among physicians. Ninety-five percent of primary care physicians surveyed were unaware that adults with high cholesterol can meaningfully reduce levels within one month by following a clinically supported diet. These findings highlight what preventive cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, founder of Step One Foods, calls “a systemic blind spot in medicine’s approach to heart disease.”
“Clinical research shows that the right combination of foods can significantly lower cholesterol in just one month,” says Dr. Klodas. “It’s not a theory. It’s a proven first step that should come before or alongside medication in every treatment plan.”
A Knowledge Gap with Life-or-Death Implications
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 919,000 lives in 2023 according to the CDC. Yet many physicians still underestimate how dietary interventions can rival the effectiveness of medication for lowering cholesterol.
The survey also shows a disconnect between doctors’ perceptions and patients’ preferences. Nearly two-thirds of PCPs surveyed (63%) believe their patients would rather take medication than make dietary changes, but only 35% of Americans agree. In fact, nearly 9 in U.S. adults (87%) say that, if needed, they would be willing to make the right dietary changes if they could lower their cholesterol in 30 days.
However, doctors often lack the tools to support that change. Nearly three in four (74%) primary care physicians surveyed say they wish they had better resources to help patients manage cholesterol through diet. The problem starts early. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 75% of medical schools have no required clinical nutrition classes, and those that do provide fewer than 20 hours of instruction on average.
Reconnecting Food and Medicine
Dr. Klodas, a Mayo Clinic-trained cardiologist, founded Step One Foods to close this gap between research and care. Every product in the system is scientifically formulated to deliver clinically meaningful amounts of fiber, plant sterols, antioxidants, and omega-3s; nutrients shown in a Mayo Clinic–led clinical trial to reduce LDL cholesterol within 30 days.
The findings point to a public health opportunity hiding in plain sight. By making nutrition a central part of care, experts say, the U.S. could take meaningful strides in preventing chronic conditions that drive both healthcare costs and premature mortality.
As Dr. Klodas notes, “Patients want options, physicians want better tools, and the science is already here. The most powerful intervention for heart disease prevention can already be sitting on our plates.”
About the research
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Step One Foods from September 23–25, 2025 among 2,095 adults ages 18 and older, and on October 17, 2025 among 104 primary care physicians. For complete research method, including credible intervals, weighting variables, and subgroup sample sizes (where applicable), please contact Kathy Steinberg.
Discover additional findings at Step One Foods.
