HEART HEALTH AND KIDS

As part of National American Heart Month, Children's of Alabama is encouraging
parents, educators and care givers across the state to take a vested interest in our
kids heart health. We are making huge strides to fight pediatric heart disease- with
the opening of the Joseph S. Bruno Heart Center in the Benjamin Russell Hospital for
Children in 2012; we have created a single platform of care for families across the
region. Join us as we fight against congenital heart disease, childhood obesity and
pediatric hypertension. Together, we can make Alabama healthier!
Most parents probably don't think about what cholesterol means for their kids. But
high levels of cholesterol are a major factor contributing to heart disease and
stroke, and medical research shows that cardiovascular disease has its roots in
childhood. And with the dramatic increase in childhood obesity, more and more kids
are at risk.
"One of the best ways for your kids to be heart healthy, is for parents to be role
models," said Ashley Gemmill, MS, RD, LD, registered dietician at Children's of
Alabama. "You can't expect a child to change their habits if you are not willing to
change yours- it's important to stay active, and eat a low-cholesterol diet."
Problems associated with high cholesterol generally don't show up for years, so
making the connection between kids' health and cholesterol can be difficult. But
it's important to know your child's cholesterol levels, especially if there's a
family history of high cholesterol or premature heart disease.
Identifying high cholesterol now will let you and your doctor work together to make
changes that will lower your child's risk of developing heart disease later.
Three major factors contribute to high cholesterol levels:


Diet: a diet high in fats, particularly saturated and trans fats


Heredity: having parents or a parent with high cholesterol


Obesity: related to both diet and lack of exercise
Kids who are physically active, eat healthy foods, don't have a family history of
high cholesterol or heart disease, and aren't overweight have a lower risk for high
cholesterol. Your doctor will help decide when your child's cholesterol level should
be checked.

10 Ways to be Heart Healthy

Here are 10 ways to help keep your family's cholesterol at healthy levels:

Know your own cholesterol level - and if it's high, ask to have your kids' levels
checked.
Serve a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
Choose from a variety of protein foods, including lean meats and poultry, fish,
nuts, beans, peas and soy products.
Read nutrition facts labels so that you can limit cholesterol and saturated and
trans fat intake. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend keeping dietary fat intake
between 30-40 percent for kids 1-3 years old and between 25 -35 percent for kids 4
to 18 years, with most fats coming from sources of unsaturated fats, such as fish,
nuts and vegetable oils.

For kids older than 2 years and teens, limit:

cholesterol to less than 300 milligrams a day
saturated fats to less than 10 percent of calories
trans fats as much as possible to less than one percent of calories
Choose nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products.
Stay away from solid fats. Use vegetable oil for cooking and soft margarine for
table use.
Limit beverages and foods with added sugars.
Limit commercially prepared baked goods and serve healthy snacks such as fresh
fruit, vegetables with low-fat dip, light popcorn and low-fat yogurt.
Get plenty of exercise. Exercise helps boost HDL levels in the blood - and that's a
good thing! Kids and teens should be physically active at least 60 minutes a day.
Make living healthier a family affair. Kids usually aren't the only ones at risk, so
it's important to make this a family effort. The strides you take to improve your
family's lifestyle can have a positive effect on your family's health not only now,
but far into the future.

For more information on this or other health and safety topics, visit
www.childrensal.org.