Nutrition
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. For millions of Americans, living with this chronic condition reshapes daily life, long-term health and the lives of families and communities.
The actual costs of heart disease are staggering. Based on a American Heart Association (AHA) 2025 report:
- Direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease the United States were estimated at $417.9 billion in 2020 to 2021
- Of that total, $233.3 billion is direct costs such as medical costs
- The balance of that total — $184.6 billion — is indirect costs such as lost productivity due to the death of workers
- The AHA also noted, the average annual out-of-pocket-expenditures for people with heart disease treatment was $4,900 per individual.
Prevention saves lives — and money
What’s most alarming about those numbers is that there is so much that can be done to improve them. It starts with better lifestyle choices including not smoking, getting enough exercise and eating a nutritious diet, all of which help improve heart health for patients with heart disease. Those same habits also help prevent heart disease. Research shows that if people would address their risk factors for heart disease, almost 80% of all heart disease could be prevented. This includes heart attacks and strokes.
Better prevention not only saves lives, but it also saves the nation and individuals large amounts of money in health care expenditures. On average, the U.S. spends about twice as much on health per person than other high-income countries.
Food as medicine
Eating a heart-healthy diet is one of the most important preventive measures a person can take and emphasizes eating plenty of:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Healthy sources of protein including lean meats, seafood, nuts and beans
- Whole grain foods like whole grain breads and pastas
- Low-fat or fat-free dairy
It also focuses on reducing the consumption of fat, salt, sugar and processed foods.
Pilot program proves the value of nutrition solutions
In June 2021, 93 dually eligible members from a Medicaid Plan in California with congestive heart failure, with a minimum of four emergency department visits in the last 12 months and a high-risk profile, took part in a six-month pilot program of receiving lower-sodium medically tailored meals from Mom 's Meals®. Participants also received other supports, including calls with registered dietitians, community health workers, and nurse case managers, as well as produce and pantry boxes to help them transition to healthy lifestyle habits.
Results included:
- 42% reduction in inpatient acute admissions
- 39% reduction in inpatient length of stay
- 39% reduction in unavoidable hospitalization
- 40% reduction in emergency department conversions to inpatient
Significant decreases in self-reported swelling of hands, legs, and feet occurred between baseline and mid-program and between baseline to the end-of-program (p. <.0001). Although there were no significant changes between mid-program and end-of program, the self-reported reductions in swelling that occurred early in the program were sustained.
The pilot program was not without limitations, including but not limited to overlaps in the delivery of tailored meals and produce and pantry boxes, the small sample size, and other concurrent interventions, all of which limits the ability to generalize study findings to a larger population.
Mom’s Meals food as medicine solutions
Making nutritious foods more accessible and helping educate individuals about healthier choices is especially important for clients or patients with nutrition-sensitive chronic health conditions like heart disease.
Mom’s Meals provides the most comprehensive food as medicine solutions nationwide. We provide nutrition solutions designed for all ages to bring comfort and inspire confidence in people seeking to live healthier, manage chronic conditions, recover from illness or continue to live independently. Our integrated solutions include medically tailored meals, produce and pantry boxes, oral nutrition supplements, shelf-stable, kosher and halal meals, and nutrition counseling and education.
We’re setting the standard in the food as medicine space with real-world results that show fewer hospitalizations, better A1C control, stronger medication adherence and meaningful reductions in the total cost of care. From caregivers and case managers to payers and state and federal agencies, we’re the provider trusted to deliver scalable, evidence-based interventions for Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care and self-pay populations.
Learn more about Mom's Meals food as medicine solutions.
