Prevention is key. We need to institute programs that detect health risks early and prevent them from becoming life threatening diseases. Low cholesterol diet programs can go hand in hand with preventive diagnostics, health risk assessments, counseling and intervention.

It is critical that consumers, healthcare providers, employers and policymakers embrace a culture of prevention in approaching healthcare challenges. Roughly four percent of Americas $2.2 trillion dollars in annual healthcare spending is devoted to prevention.

As long as prevention techniques are not practiced daily, Americans will continue to experience alarming levels of obesity and serious illnesses like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

A low cholesterol diet will go a long way in arresting Americas health care challenges. A new and different healthcare culture must be adopted. We are making great gains in treating diseases but not in preventing them. Preventive healthcare has been successfully tested at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center.

"The prevention model developed by U.S. Preventive Medicine represents an innovative, tangible way to engage hospitals, physicians, employers and consumers in the shared mission of improving America's health."

David B. Nash, M.D., M.B.A, Chairman, Department of Health Policy at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and Chairman, U.S. Preventive Medicine's National Advisory Board.

The American Heart Association reports that the lifetime risk of developing hypertension is approximately 90 percent for adults between the ages 55 and 65. One third of those affected are not aware they have this condition. So much of this has to do with diet.

The World Health Organization reports that 50 percent of the deaths and disability from heart disease and strokes worldwide can easily be cut. It will take a combination of cost effective national efforts and individual actions. A low cholesterol diet can reduce major risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that preventive efforts in the area of diet can benefit the 17 million Americans with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. spends more than twice per capita on healthcare than any other country in the world. However, our health outcomes rank below many other developed nations.

America has approximately 80 million baby boomers who are marching gracefully toward seniority. The duel approach of a low cholesterol diet and healthcare prevention programs must be incorporated into lifestyles now before its too late.