How Our Scoring Works

BetterNot exists for one reason: to help you avoid food that quietly increases your risk of heart disease.

We ignore marketing claims and score food based on what actually matters for long-term heart health, especially LDL cholesterol, the primary driver of heart disease.

What BetterNot Measures

Every menu item is scored using public, institutional medical guidelines, not half-truths or marketing hype.

We focus on the factors most strongly linked to heart disease:

  • Saturated fat

  • Trans fat

  • Fiber

  • Sugar & refined carbs

  • Sodium

  • Calories

  • Cooking method & oil quality

Each of these has a direct, evidence-backed relationship with LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.

Where the Science Comes From

BetterNot scoring is built using guidance from:

We simply translate the existing top studies into something usable at a restaurant.

The BetterNot Score (0–100)

Each menu item receives a 0–100 heart score; the higher the score, the better it is for you.

The score is a weighted combination of seven subscores:

Factor → Why it matters

  1. Saturated Fat → Raises LDL cholesterol

  2. Trans Fat → Strongest dietary risk

  3. Fiber → Lowers LDL

  4. Sugar & Carb Quality → Worsens lipid profiles

  5. Sodium → Linked to heart strain

  6. Calories → Overall load

  7. Cooking Method & Oils → Frying vs grilling

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Grades You’ll See in the App

We translate health scores into simple language:

  • ❤️ Healthy (90–100) → Actively supports heart health

  • 🙂 Decent (70–89) → Acceptable, but not ideal

  • 🥴 Not Healthy (30–69) → Regular consumption raises health risks

  • 🚫 Don’t Eat (0–29) → Strongly recommended avoiding

Bonus Hearts ❤️

Many foods help increase your health, we make sure to point those out as well.

Items can earn up to 3 bonus hearts if they contain LDL-lowering ingredients like:

  • Oats & whole grains

  • Beans & legumes

  • Nuts

  • Fatty fish (salmon, sardines)

  • Fruits rich in soluble fiber

  • Plant sterols

Bonus hearts are only awarded to items that already score well. You can’t cancel out bad food with one healthy ingredient.

Warnings You’ll See

When a food crosses key risk thresholds, BetterNot flags it:

  • 🚫 High saturated fat

  • 🚫 Trans fat detected

  • 🚫 High sodium

  • 🚫 Low fiber

  • 🚫 Likely fried in refined oils

Example: “Contains ~50% of your daily saturated fat in one item.”

What BetterNot Does Not Do

  • We do not accept paid placements

  • We do not promote brands

  • We do not hide bad scores

  • We do not guess; if we don’t know, we’ll tell you.

Why Restaurants Aren’t Scored “Perfectly”

Menus change.

Recipes vary.

Nutrition disclosures aren’t always complete.

BetterNot uses:

  • Official restaurant nutrition data

  • Ingredient disclosures when available

  • Conservative assumptions when details are missing

When in doubt, we err against overstating health benefits.

Bottom Line

Heart disease is the #1 killer in America.

LDL cholesterol is the #1 driver of heart disease.

Food is the #1 controllable input.

BetterNot exists to help you eat better and live longer.