The Science Behind Step One Foods
Your health is very important to you. It is paramount to us. That’s why we created our foods using formulations grounded in science and backed by extensive published research.
View the 550+ peer reviewed references supporting the composition of our products here
Most Products Promise. Ours is Proven.
Most “heart-healthy” products are regular foods with nutrients sprinkled in. Step One is different: each serving is formulated from whole ingredients, with effects proven in clinical research.
Explore summaries of the peer-reviewed research that supports Step One Foods.
Step One Foods Validated at Mayo Clinic
Crossover Clinical Trial. J Nutr. 2022 Feb 8;152(2):458-465.
Background: Many hyperlipidemic patients prescribed statins are unable or unwilling to take them. A snack-based alternative containing cholesterol-lowering bioactives could represent a therapeutic option.
Objectives: Evaluate the effect of Step One Foods on fasting LDL cholesterol in statin-intolerant patients.
Methods: Randomized, double-blind, free-living crossover study with adult participants consuming Step One Foods foods vs. calorie-matched control snacks.
Results: Participants consuming Step One Foods twice daily lowered LDL cholesterol significantly within 30 days compared with control snacks.
Conclusions: Hedonically acceptable snack foods containing a compendium of cholesterol-lowering compounds can rapidly and meaningfully reduce LDL cholesterol.
Fiber & Cholesterol
Brown L, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:30-42.
Meta-analysis of randomized trials: soluble fibers (oat β-glucan, psyllium, pectin, guar) produce modest but significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol.
Jenkins DJ, et al. Effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods. BMJ. 2008;337:a1840.
Dietary pattern combining plant sterols, viscous fiber, soy protein, and almonds achieved LDL-C reductions comparable to first-line pharmacotherapy in some patients.
Anderson JW, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effects of oat β-glucan. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:449-450.
Oat β-glucan intake associated with significant LDL-C decreases; supports regulatory health claims for oats as a cholesterol-lowering food.
Bell S, et al. A randomized controlled crossover trial of psyllium. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1990;44:41-49.
Daily psyllium lowered serum LDL-C versus control in hypercholesterolemic subjects; well tolerated.
Jenkins AL, et al. Barley β-glucan and blood lipids. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002;56:621-629.
Barley β-glucan supplementation improved LDL-C and total cholesterol; effect scaled with β-glucan dose and viscosity.
Whitehead A, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effects of oat β-glucan: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100:1413-1421.
Across randomized trials, 3 g/day of oat β-glucan significantly reduced LDL-C, validating viscous fiber as a therapeutic component.
Brouns F, et al. Viscous fiber and bile acid excretion. Nutr Res Rev. 2012;25:1-15.
Mechanistic review: soluble fibers increase bile acid excretion and reduce cholesterol reabsorption, contributing to LDL lowering.
Keenan JM, et al. Oat consumption in hypercholesterolemia. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:1355-1363.
Daily oat-based foods reduced LDL-C versus control; supports incorporating oats into lipid management.
Ras RT, et al. Mixed fibers and lipids: systematic review. Nutrients. 2017;9:761.
Multiple viscous fibers demonstrate consistent LDL-C reductions; magnitude varies by fiber type and dose.
Ho HV, et al. Effects of chia and flax on blood lipids. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013;23:1032-1040.
ALA-rich seeds increase fiber intake and can improve triglycerides and LDL particle characteristics in certain populations.
Plant Sterols / Stanols
Katan MB, et al. Efficacy and safety of plant stanols and sterols in the management of blood cholesterol levels. Mayo Clin Proc. 2003;78:965-978.
Comprehensive review: daily intake of 1.5–3 g plant sterols/stanols lowers LDL-C by ~7–15% without major safety concerns.
Demonty I, et al. Continuous dose-response relationship of phytosterol intake and LDL-C lowering. J Nutr. 2009;139:271-284.
Meta-analysis demonstrates dose-dependent LDL-C reduction up to ~3 g/day; plateau effect beyond that dose.
Abumweis SS, et al. Plant sterols/stanols in cholesterol management. Food Nutr Res. 2008;52:1811.
Evidence supports daily sterol consumption as an adjunct to diet for LDL-C reduction across diverse populations.
Ras RT, et al. Safety and efficacy of phytosterols. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2014;16:389.
Confirms consistent LDL-C lowering with favorable safety profile; discusses absorption mechanisms and formulation factors.
Hallikainen MA, et al. Effects of plant stanol esters on serum cholesterol. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:1308-1312.
Pivotal RCT: stanol esters significantly lower LDL-C when incorporated into daily foods versus control.
Miettinen TA, et al. Serum cholesterol and sitostanol margarine. Circulation. 1995;92:879-887.
Demonstrated LDL-C reductions with sitostanol-enriched margarines; established functional food vehicle approach.
Gylling H, et al. Plant stanol esters and cholesterol absorption. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;65:1419-1423.
Mechanistic human study: stanols reduce cholesterol absorption efficiency, explaining LDL-C lowering.
Plat J, Mensink RP. Effects of plant sterols and stanols on lipoproteins and fat-soluble vitamins. Clin Nutr. 2001;20:97-106.
LDL-C lowering confirmed; minor, non-clinically significant reductions in carotenoids noted at higher doses.
Jones PJ, et al. Phytosterols in functional foods. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000;54:757-764.
Summarizes formulation considerations (esterified vs. free sterols) and typical effect sizes in real-world foods.
Noakes M, Clifton PM. Plant sterol-fortified foods and lipids. J Clin Lipidol. 2008;2:17-28.
Clinical data show LDL-C lowering across margarine, yogurt, milk, and snack matrices with regular consumption.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Hu FB, et al. Fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease. JAMA. 2002;287:1815-1821.
Prospective cohort analysis associating higher omega-3 intake with reduced CHD risk and sudden cardiac death.
Bucher HC, et al. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2002;112:298-304.
Omega-3 supplementation associated with reductions in overall mortality and sudden death post-MI.
Kris-Etherton PM, et al. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2002;106:2747-2757.
AHA scientific statement: strong evidence for cardio-protective effects and triglyceride lowering of omega-3s.
Mozaffarian D, et al. Cardiac benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2005;12:365-372.
Review of mechanisms (antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory, triglyceride lowering); supports dietary intake recommendations.
Harper CR, Jacobson TA. Use of omega-3 fatty acids in hypertriglyceridemia. Am J Cardiol. 2005;96:151-158.
Clinical guidance: EPA/DHA lower triglycerides; consider dosing and combination with statins where indicated.
Goyens PL, et al. Conversion of α-linolenic acid to EPA and DHA in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84:44-53.
Human metabolic study clarifying ALA conversion rates; supports including ALA-rich foods in diets.
Pan A, et al. α-Linolenic acid and cardiovascular risk. BMJ. 2012;345:e5849.
Higher ALA intake associated with reduced CHD risk; supports plant-based omega-3 sources like flax and chia.
Balk EM, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment. 2004;89.
Systematic review across RCTs: omega-3s lower TG, modest effects on other lipids; safety profile acceptable.
Burdge GC, Calder PC. Dietary ALA and human health. Proc Nutr Soc. 2006;65:160-172.
Narrative review of ALA’s role; highlights benefits independent of conversion to EPA/DHA.
Eslick GD, et al. Fish consumption and ischemic heart disease risk. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63:585-592.
Meta-analysis linking fish intake with modest reductions in ischemic heart disease risk.
Antioxidants & Polyphenols
Knekt P, et al. Flavonoid intake and coronary mortality. Am J Epidemiol. 2002;155:345-353.
Prospective cohort: higher flavonoid consumption associated with lower CHD mortality.
Rimm EB, et al. Vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene intake and risk of coronary heart disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996;63:567-574.
Observational data suggest antioxidant-rich diets correlate with reduced CHD risk; supports whole-food sources.
Hertog MG, et al. Dietary flavonoids and reduction in coronary heart disease. Lancet. 1993;342:1007-1011.
Seminal epidemiological study linking flavonoid intake with CHD reduction; sparked interest in polyphenols.
Corti R, et al. Cocoa and cardiovascular health. Circulation. 2009;119:1433-1441.
Review: cocoa polyphenols improve endothelial function and reduce blood pressure in short-term trials.
Curtis PJ, et al. Blueberries and endothelial function. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019;109:1535-1545.
RCT shows berry polyphenols enhance endothelial function; supports inclusion of berries for vascular health.
Tzounis X, et al. Flavanols and nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88:1369-1377.
Mechanistic human data: cocoa flavanols increase NO bioavailability leading to improved vasodilation.
de Oliveira Otto MC, et al. Nuts and cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72:1062-1071.
Higher nut intake associated with lower CVD incidence and mortality; polyphenols and healthy fats implicated.
Katz DL, et al. Cocoa and lipid profile. J Nutr. 2011;141:1982-1988.
Controlled trials show small TG and LDL improvements with cocoa flavanol consumption.
Hodgson JM, et al. Tea flavonoids and cardiovascular health. Mol Aspects Med. 2008;29:495-502.
Green and black tea flavonoids linked with improved vascular markers in acute and chronic settings.
García-Conesa MT, et al. Polyphenols and cardiovascular risk factors. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2018;17:1461-1480.
Systematic review summarizing evidence for polyphenol-rich foods in lipid modulation and endothelial protection.
Whole Diet Patterns
Estruch R, et al. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED). N Engl J Med. 2013;368:1279-1290.
Landmark RCT: Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduced major cardiovascular events.
Jenkins DJ, et al. The Portfolio Diet and cholesterol lowering. JAMA. 2003;290:502-510.
Portfolio diet (plant sterols, viscous fiber, soy protein, nuts) produced additive LDL-C reductions in hyperlipidemia.
Sacks FM, et al. Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium and the DASH diet. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:3-10.
DASH pattern significantly lowered blood pressure; supports plant-forward, minimally processed dietary patterns.
Satija A, et al. Plant-based diet indices and CHD. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70:411-422.
Healthy plant-based dietary index associated with lower coronary heart disease risk compared with unhealthy plant-based patterns.
Aune D, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46:1029-1056.
Dose-response meta-analysis: increasing fruit/vegetable intake inversely associated with CVD risk up to ~800 g/day.
Li Y, et al. Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70:2519-2532.
Prospective cohorts show frequent nut intake linked to lower total CVD and CHD risk.
Schwingshackl L, Hoffmann G. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular outcomes: a meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr. 2014;17:2769-2779.
Greater adherence to Mediterranean diet associated with reduced cardiovascular events and mortality.
Jenkins DJ, et al. Low-glycemic index diet in hyperlipidemia. JAMA. 2014;312:2531-2541.
Low-GI eating pattern improved LDL-C and CRP relative to high-GI diet; supports minimally processed carbs.
Keys A, et al. Seven Countries Study: Diet and coronary heart disease. Circulation. 1970;41:1-211.
Classic epidemiology linking dietary patterns rich in plant foods and unsaturated fats with lower CHD rates.
Ornish D, et al. Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. JAMA. 1998;280:2001-2007.
Multimodal plant-forward lifestyle intervention showed regression of coronary atherosclerosis over 5 years.
When statins are not enough our products are here to help.
The American College of Cardiology advises optimizing nutrition, specifically increasing fiber and plant sterol intake, prior to prescribing various therapies for LDL cholesterol lowering.
Step One Foods is made from a suite of concentrated whole food ingredients designed to deliver therapeutically impactful levels of fiber, plant sterols, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. We help lower your cholesterol without the potential for side effects.
Unlike other companies, we take your health seriously.
- Our products were developed by a cardiologist.
- They have been tested and evaluated by cardiologists and patients.
- They are designed with precision, so you know exactly what nutrients are being delivered and in what quantities.
- There are no additives, artificial preservatives, colors, or artificial flavors.
We stand behind our products: If our solution does not work for you, we offer a money-back guarantee*
As easy as taking a pill.
All you need to do is eat 2 servings of Step One Foods per day instead of something you are eating already.
That's it. No other lifestyle changes required.
And in 30 days you can see a cholesterol response.
Trying Step One Foods for at least 30 days is the easiest, most direct way to test whether you have the potential to impact your cholesterol levels through dietary adjustment.
A range of cardiovascular benefits
The fact that people saw dramatic cholesterol responses in the clinical trial is objective proof that Step One Foods are simply good for you.
Hundreds of other published studies have shown that if you're eating right for lowering cholesterol, you're also eating right to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve blood sugar control
- Reduced inflammation
- Lose weight
These effects will take longer than 30 days to achieve but are absolutely possible with Step One Foods. In addition, many customers report improved digestive function, fewer cravings, and better energy levels… almost immediately.
Get in touch with us
If you have any questions about our foods or how to use them, please contact us by clicking the link below. We are here to help you succeed.