Calgary Naturopath and Functional Medicine Doctor, Dr. Brandon Testa ND discuss ways to improve heart health without the use of medications, focusing on lifestyle modifications.

Insulin resistance is a hidden driver of heart health problems. A functional medicine approach looks beyond cholesterol to advanced labs that assess insulin, inflammation, and metabolism, helping reveal risks early and guide personalized prevention.

Chronic inflammation is a silent threat to heart health, damaging arteries and driving plaque buildup. A functional medicine approach looks beyond cholesterol to advanced tests that reveal hidden inflammation and metabolic stress, guiding personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and root‑cause strategies to protect your heart.

Advanced lab testing in functional medicine offers a more complete way to assess heart health by looking far beyond LDL cholesterol. Instead of focusing on a single number, this approach evaluates inflammation, genetics, metabolic and renal health, and key nutrient levels to reveal your true cardiovascular risk. As an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, I use these advanced tools to uncover root causes that standard panels may miss and create personalized strategies to protect your heart. By looking beyond cholesterol alone, we can design holistic, tailored plans that reduce your risk of heart disease and support long‑term heart health and overall wellness.

Exercise is a proven powerhouse for heart health, slashing risks of heart disease through better blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, body composition, and stress resilience. Yet 1 in 2 adults skip the recommended 150 weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity.

Functional medicine makes exercise work for you—personalized, sustainable, and joyful. Ditch the gym if it’s not your vibe. Choose meaningful movement like dog walks, neighborhood jogs, paddle ball, or basement workouts that fit your life. Pick routines easy to restart after life interruptions, and select activities you crave to stay motivated year-round.

This blog reveals why generic “exercise more” advice fails and how to build a heart-protective routine that’s truly sustainable for lasting cardiovascular wellness.

Secret to heart health… there is no real secret or surprise. The path to heart health includes 8 simple elements, that when maximized help to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, and dying for heart disease. Are you looking for a functional medicine approach to heart health, that is practical and not going to break the bank? I got you covered.

Erectile dysfunction impacts more than 30% of men over the age of 40 years old. Not only is ED common with advancing age, it is also a warning sign for heart disease. ED and cardiovascular disease can share a common cause. Functional medicine lab work can be helpful to understand the root cause of ED, and evaluate heart health.

A center piece to heart healthy eating focuses on foods that are high in fibre. By eating foods that are rich in fibre you can lower your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease. We offer heart healthy meal planning for elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, people living with heart disease, and type II diabetes.

Heart health is influenced by multiple elements, but often the conversation centers on “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Though cholesterol plays a key role in the development of heart disease, it does not capture the whole picture. Looking at other components such as inflammation and genetic factors can provide a fuller picture of a your heart health.

High blood pressure impacts 1 in 5 Canadians, and is one of the primary causes for poor heart health. High blood pressure can be prevented and treated with functional medicine. Diet and lifestyle can dramatically lower blood pressure without the use of medication. Improve your heart health with functional medicine.

Exercise is a personalized, engaging, and low cost method to enhance heart health, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and reduce your risk of dying from heart disease. Learn more about how exercise can improve your heart health.

A value driven approach to improve your heart health through nutrition change. Explore how food can naturally lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and improve your heart health. Let’s talk about the role food can play in your heart and metabolic health.

Nutrition habits associated with decreasing your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. These five elements can help reduce your risk of dying from heart disease, naturally lower high blood pressure, and improve your heart health.

It is time to talk about long term risk, specifically our long term risk for cardiovascular disease.