What children eat, how much they exercise, and their weight can all play an influential role in their development of heart problems. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of obese children ranging in age from 5 to 17 presented with at least one of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
Basics
Promoting heart health in children can result in a lifetime of benefits. Children who are encouraged to be heart healthy and who learn how to make heart-healthy decisions will not only keep their heart healthy as a child, but they will be more likely to make beneficial decisions as they age into adulthood.
Specifics
To teach children to be heart healthy, they must learn how to eat healthy and well-rounded meals. Take the time to help a child understand how food high in saturated fat or trans fat should be eaten in small amounts or not at all because the fats can contribute to future heart problems.
It is also important to make children aware of the benefits of exercise on their heart. Teach children the specific amount of exercise they need to engage in each day. Help children get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Talk with children about how being overweight can contribute to the development of heart problems in the future. Help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight in a positive way.
Considerations
When teaching a child to be heart healthy, do not forget about the importance of proper oral hygiene. According to a Scottish study reported by the BBC News website, people who brushed their teeth twice each day were 70 percent less likely to develop heart disease than compared to people with poor oral hygiene. Therefore, teaching children to care for their teeth properly and to brush their teeth twice a day can decrease their chances of experiencing heart problems as a result of heart disease.
Benefits
Children who are heart healthy will experience numerous benefits. Benefits include learning positive ways to maintain a healthy weight and a reduction in the risks associated with having a heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure throughout her life time. A healthy heart will improve the overall health and well-being of the child. Also, having a healthy heart can decrease the cost of a child's overall life time expenditure on health care.
Tips
You can do things to help a child have a healthy heart. Make your own healthy dietary decisions and get regular exercise. Children learn by watching the adults; your habits will influence their habits. Teach children the importance of drinking water instead of sugary sodas or sports drinks. Give children access to healthy fruits and vegetables. Avoid providing children with foods that contain trans fats. Limit the amount of saturated fat in a child's diet.
Get the child involved in activities that encourage him to get regular exercise. Limit the amount of time the child spends in front of the television or computer to less than two hours per day. More than this can lead to unnecessary weight gain.
