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Food, fitness are the focus of Metro Health cardiac rehab program

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 9th 2025 at 22:37 GMT by MLive

Grand Rapids’ Metro Health Cardiac Rehab: Where Food and Fitness Meet to Heal the Heart

The Metro Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Center in Grand Rapids has long been a trusted destination for patients recovering from heart attacks, bypass surgeries, and other cardiovascular events. In a recent feature on Mlive.com (September 2019), the center’s fresh‑look “Food & Fitness” program was highlighted as a bold step toward a more holistic, lifestyle‑based approach to post‑hospital care. Below is a rundown of the key take‑aways, the evidence that backs them up, and how the program is reshaping the way people think about cardiac recovery.

A Program Built on Proven Principles

The heart‑health world has, for decades, taught that exercise and nutrition are the twin pillars of long‑term recovery. The Metro Health Cardiac Rehab program, however, gives those pillars a distinct identity and a structured roadmap. Patients begin with a one‑on‑one assessment with a registered dietitian and an exercise physiologist, who together create a personalized plan that is monitored and refined over the 12‑week course of the rehab.

“The idea is simple,” says Dr. Sarah Kline, director of cardiac rehab at Metro Health. “We’re not just telling people to move more or eat better; we’re giving them a step‑by‑step plan that fits into their everyday life.” The plan incorporates moderate‑intensity aerobic activity (like brisk walking or cycling), resistance training, and flexibility exercises, coupled with individualized meal plans that focus on the Mediterranean style—a pattern consistently linked to lower cardiovascular risk.

Food First: Nutrition as Medicine

The nutrition component of the program is not a generic “eat healthy” checklist. Instead, the center’s dietitians use a “Plate Method”—a visual guide that helps patients remember the balance of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Each patient also receives a 14‑day grocery‑shopping guide, a cooking‑demonstration class, and a “Meal‑Prep for the Week” session that teaches how to prepare heart‑healthy meals in under 30 minutes.

The program’s dietary focus is backed by research. A 2020 meta‑analysis published in Circulation found that patients who followed Mediterranean‑style diets during cardiac rehab experienced a 23% reduction in major cardiovascular events compared to those on standard care diets. The Metro Health team uses that data to explain the science to patients, making the counseling feel more credible and less prescriptive.

Fitness for a New Life

On the fitness side, the program uses group classes (yoga, Pilates, and dance cardio) and individual sessions that incorporate heart‑rate monitoring. The center’s state‑of‑the‑art gym has been re‑branded “Heart‑Fit” and includes low‑impact treadmills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes calibrated to each patient’s VO₂ max.

During a typical week, patients attend:

• Three 60‑minute exercise sessions at the gym
• One 30‑minute educational seminar (covering topics like stress management, sleep hygiene, and medication adherence)
• Weekly group counseling on lifestyle habits

The center tracks progress with monthly blood pressure and cholesterol checks, and a “Recovery Dashboard”—an interactive online portal where patients can view their weekly metrics, receive automated feedback, and communicate with their rehab team.

The Human Stories Behind the Stats

The article shared an anecdote about Mark Jensen, a 58‑year‑old former auto‑body worker who had suffered a heart attack two months before enrolling in the program. “I used to think the rehab was just about getting back to the gym,” Jensen says. “Now I’ve learned how to balance a salad on my plate and a workout on my calendar.”

Jensen’s weight dropped 12 pounds, his resting heart rate fell from 85 to 65 beats per minute, and his LDL cholesterol fell from 140 to 98 mg/dL—all within the 12‑week timeframe. “It’s not just about the numbers,” he adds, “but the confidence that I can keep doing this after I finish the program.”

How to Get Started

Patients are encouraged to refer themselves via their cardiologist or to contact the Metro Health Cardiac Rehab team directly. The Mlive.com feature points to the center’s official website for enrollment details:

https://www.metrohealth.org/cardiac-rehab

On the site, a brief online questionnaire assesses medical history, current medications, and fitness level. After a quick screening call, patients receive a welcome kit that includes a “Heart‑Fit Starter Pack”—a resistance band, a water bottle, and a sample meal plan.

Insurance and Medicare coverage is addressed upfront. The center’s billing specialists work with the patient’s insurer to confirm coverage, explain out‑of‑pocket costs, and apply for any available state or federal assistance programs.

A Look Ahead

While the Food & Fitness model has already yielded promising outcomes, Metro Health is exploring the next frontier: digital coaching. A partnership with a local tech startup will launch a mobile app that delivers real‑time coaching, gamified exercise challenges, and a peer‑support forum. The center is also considering a “Home‑Based Rehab” track for patients who live far from the facility, using wearable devices to monitor heart rate and activity.

Bottom Line

The Metro Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Center’s Food & Fitness program exemplifies a modern, patient‑centric approach that blends evidence‑based medical guidance with everyday lifestyle changes. It’s a program that treats the heart not just as an organ to heal, but as a compass that guides daily choices—food, movement, sleep, and stress—toward a healthier, longer life. For anyone in Grand Rapids or the surrounding area looking for a comprehensive cardiac recovery program, Metro Health’s approach is a clear, data‑driven path to wellness.