Diane Goetz Family Practice PLLC

03/29/2026

Today's kitchen adventure! I had never had papaya so I picked one up at the grocery last week to try. Waited several days for it to ripen. Was kind of nervous because some people online said they taste or smell bad. I finally cut into it this morning. First impression, it's gorgeous 😍 what a beautiful coral!!! The raw fruit was not bad, kind of bland. I didn't notice a weird smell but not particularly fruity, either. We juiced it with pineapple, green apple, lemon, and cucumber. Much more fruit-forward than our typical juices but delicious! Papaya contains exfoliating enzymes that are great for skin so I blended up a chunk with some yogurt and raw honey for a face mask 🥰 Apparently the seeds (which look like caviar!) have many uses so I've reserved them to do something with later.

03/27/2026

03/25/2026

One thing I learned recently is many of you were very attached to my long hair 😂 cutting my hair was an urge that came over me all of a sudden; in hindsight a predictable continuation of my years-long journey toward simplifying my life so I can focus on things that bring the most joy and pleasure. My hair did not fall into that category haha! Long hair is this element you always have to at least consider even if, like me, you are a person who doesn't style it. So cheers to having courage and to reclaiming our time and energy in the big ways and the little ways. Nick says my bob is "kicky" and I can get down with that 🎀

03/23/2026

The office is closed Monday 3/23 for scheduled rest. Refills will be handled as usual. We will be back on Tuesday! 💙

03/23/2026

Grilled shrimp
Spring mix
Smoked blue cheese
Thin sliced green apple
Maple mustard vinaigrette 😍

03/21/2026

This is your sign to make grilled naan pizza 😍

03/21/2026

Patio dinner season has commenced!!! 🌼💛
Look at Bud's little face in the background 😍

03/20/2026

Over here buzzing with excitement for the Spring Equinox! 🌱🌼🦋

03/19/2026

The AHA dyslipidemia guidelines have changed again, and here’s what I'm genuinely glad to see:
Apo-B, a measure of the actual number of plaque-forming particles in the blood, is finally getting some press as a more accurate indicator of cardiac risk than LDL alone. I recommend checking your Apo-B yearly. Even if insurance doesn't cover it, this is an affordable test worth self-paying for. It is also recommended to have Lp(a) checked once in your adult life – this is a genetically determined, stable marker of cardiovascular risk. Elevated Lp(a) signals higher inherited risk for cardiovascular disease, independent of cholesterol levels. Still, high cholesterol and heart disease are not genetic inevitabilities, and most cardiovascular disease is preventable!
Lipid targets are back, and frankly always should have been. If your LDL cholesterol is over 100, you should be actively modifying your lifestyle to lower it. High LDL should not be normalized. Yes, it’s extremely common - so is heart disease. LDL target for high-risk individuals is less than 70, and for individuals with established cardiovascular disease less than 55. It’s remarkable just how responsive LDL is to lifestyle changes. Less saturated fat. More fiber. Regular exercise.
Children should be universally screened for dyslipidemia between the ages of 9-11 and high-risk children may even need earlier screening. Pediatric metabolic dysfunction is increasingly common.
Where I disagree:
Starting routine screening at age 30 is too late, and the recommendation for every 4-6 years is just inadequate. It is very well established that lifetime exposure to LDL cholesterol drives cardiac risk. I see individuals with high cholesterol of all ages, every single day; in fact, it is far less common to see someone with "normal" cholesterol. Get screened early. Get screened yearly. Know your risk and modify what you can - because you can modify a lot 💓