His passion for good food is as much a part of Rob’s genetic code as is high cholesterol. When Rob turned 47, blood tests indicated his cholesterol levels bordered on high. This fact was hardly surprising. His mother’s cholesterol was high enough for her to participate in early clinical trials for cholesterol-lowering medications. Her mother had suffered multiple strokes, and her father died from a circulatory condition.

In a brief discussion, Rob’s doctor told him to change his diet to lower his cholesterol, but provided no specific guidance about heart healthy foods to eat. He was told that if he was unable to achieve healthy cholesterol levels, he would be put on prescription cholesterol-lowering medications such as statin drugs.

“I was not philosophically opposed to taking medications to manage my cholesterol levels,” Rob recalls, “but the prospect of taking cholesterol medication for decades was not attractive.” It was more than just the length of therapy that bothered him. He also watched his parents, both in their 80s, spend a significant portion of their day organizing the cocktail of medications prescribed by an array of physicians. He was simply not ready to start down this road.

For Rob, many of life’s magic moments occur over a meal. He has little interest in shopping for clothes or gadgets, but will happily wander the aisles of gourmet food stores, farmers’ markets and ethnic delicatessens. While some may end the day with a novel, Rob is more likely to read a good cookbook.

Rob also comes from the food industry. He spent 15 years as a senior executive with a chocolate manufacturer. In founding Kardea Nutrition, Rob combines his love and knowledge of food with a desire to use the best natural solutions to support heart health.