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Heart Health For Kids

Kids and health-heart.
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Feb 25, 2022

Did you know that heart health is important for kids? Heart health is not only for grown-ups. In fact, if kids learn about the importance of heart health, they can help their hearts in the long run.

It is rare for kids to have heart disease, but the buildup of fat, cholesterol can start at childhood. Preventative health now can help them avoid a heart attack, and stroke when they are adults. If kids have obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, that puts kids at a higher risk.

Encourage healthy eating

Trans fats and saturated fats can raise the risk of heart disease. Choose foods that are friendly to their heart such as yoghurt and cheese, fruits and vegetables. Avoid trans fats that are found in frozen pizza, crackers, cookies, cakes.

Instead of buying store bought cookies, get the kids involved with the baking and cooking. Go to the store together and purchase the ingredients and go back home to bake the cookies together.

Kids that know what they put in their mouth will be more aware of their health as they become adults.

Kids and exercise

Daily exercise for kids is a healthy activity and when the family is involved, it is a lot of fun exercising together. Bike rides, walks, play a sport together, skipping rope are examples. Kids need 60 minutes of exercise a day from age 6.

It is common for adults to have their health checkups. Having your children get their health checkups by their doctor is important. The doctor will check your children's weight, cholesterol and blood pressure.