Cholesterol is often a word associated with adults in relation to heart disease risks and overall cardiovascular health. However, the bad effects that cholesterol can have on children are often overlooked. While many restaurants have changed their cooking methods for French fries to using cholesterol-free vegetable oils, many restaurants and homes still utilize oils high in bad cholesterol, which can ultimately have an impact on your child's health.
Types of Cholesterol
When it comes to cholesterol, not all kinds are bad for children to consume. Cholesterol can be divided into two main types, high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is considered a "bad" cholesterol; it can be found in certain frying oils used to cook French fries. HDL is considered "good" cholesterol; it is responsible for transporting LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream.
Effects of LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol does not necessarily have any immediate effects on a child. However, high LDL cholesterol levels throughout childhood can lower the age in which atherosclerosis can become a health problem. Atherosclerosis occurs when there is a regular high concentration of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. This cholesterol calcifies over time into a hard plaque, which blocks the arteries and causes an increase in blood pressure, as well as is a precursor for developing deadly heart diseases. While most likely a child is not going to develop atherosclerosis during his childhood years, regularly consuming a diet high in LDL cholesterol can put him at a risk for heart diseases later on in life.
Unhealthy Oils
If French fries are cooked in either oils derived from animal fat or oils made from trans fatty acids, they will introduce LDL cholesterol into your child's body when consumed. How much depends on the serving size of the fries and the temperature at which the fries were cooked. Higher temperatures create a crust on the potato, blocking oil from soaking into the fry. Lower temperatures allow more oil to seep in, increasing both calories and cholesterol content.
Recommendations
Children with already high cholesterol levels are at a higher risks when it comes to cholesterol consumption. Children with high LDL cholesterol levels should avoid French fries prepared with cholesterol-containing oils; they should also take part in other dietary changes to lower total cholesterol numbers. The Cholesterol Education Project is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; it has put forth guidelines suggesting that children limit saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of their daily calories. Trans-fats should be avoided all together. Meeting this guideline will help ensure your child's cholesterol numbers are lowered towards, or remain at, a healthy level.
Healthier Options
Just because some French fry preparations can increase a child's consumption of LDL cholesterol does not mean that French fries need to be cut out completely. Simply changing the preparation of the fries from deep-frying to baking can not only reduce or eliminate the amount of cholesterol per serving, but this can also significantly decrease the amount of calories per serving. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the fries before baking to increase HDL cholesterol a the same time, due to the monounsaturated fat content. When deep-frying, choose a cholesterol-free vegetable oil to reduce cholesterol intake.
References
- American Heart Association: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol
- Kids Health from Nemours: Cholesterol and Your Child
- Iowa State University; Cholesterol Guidelines for Children; Elisabeth Schafer, Ph.D
- Cincinnati Children's: Hyperlipidemia / Cholesterol Problems in Children
- Cleveland Clinic: High Cholesterol in Children
- MayoClinic.com: Trans Fat is Double Trouble for Your Heart Health
