Is This The RIGHT Approach For Your Children’s Health?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides are just some risk factors associated with heart disease.

Now, most adult – and older adults – may have altered levels of one – or all – of these factors, which may increase their risk for developing heart disease or dying a premature death from a heart attack.

However, now-a-days, due to the rise on overweight or obese CHILDREN, pediatricians are seeing more and more cases of altered cholesterol levels and triglycerides.

And this may be putting younger children at more of a risk for heart disease than ever before!

To reduce their risk for developing heart disease, at such a young age, researchers and doctors alike are trying to come up with an answer to reduce some of the most common risk factors for heart disease.

Reduce the Risk

Of course, as an adult, you may have been diagnosed by your family doc with high cholesterol or triglyceride levels...

Or you may have been told your C-reactive protein levels were elevated (sign of inflammation)…

Maybe your blood pressure was elevated to a point that caused concern!

So what happened next?

You may have been put on a blood pressure medication or a statin to control your cholesterol.

And you may have been told to change your diet and lifestyle in order to reduce your risk for dying from or developing heart disease.

Now, imagine this same scenario, but with a child that is eight, or nine, or even 10…

With close to half the population in this country being overweight or obese, the sad fact is it may be common practice for pediatricians to prescribe cholesterol and blood pressure medications to children.

So researchers aimed to see what they could do to reduce some of these risk factors.

They tested a combination of plant sterols (shown to lower cholesterol), 1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of DHA and EPA, and some B vitamins, on children who were hypercholesterolemic (high cholesterol) and other risk factors associated with heart disease.

Here is what they found:

They found that total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol (the more dangerous cholesterol produced by your body), and homocysteine levels were all SIGNIFICANTLY reduced at the end of 16 weeks in children with the combination.

They also noticed that blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids were SIGNIFICANTLY increased in the dietary supplementation group.

Now, this is important because omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to decreased weight, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and, in some cases, blood pressure, therefore potentially giving someone improved heart health benefits.

They researchers concluded:

“Daily intake of a combination of plant sterols, omega-3’s, and B vitamins may change the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents.”

Simply put, the combination of plant sterol, vitamin B, and omega-3 fatty acids may improve the lipid profiles of children and adolescents with high cholesterol.

Steps You Should Take

Although, this study may show potential benefits of a combination of different nutrients, there are other things that should be considered necessary to improve your child’s health.

In fact, most pediatricians may prescribe the 5-2-1-0 approach to weight loss and better overall health for young children.

Here is the breakdown:

The number 5 stands for getting at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

This may help get low- calorie, nutrient –rich foods into your child’s daily nutrition plan, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber necessary for maintaining a healthy weight, or even promoting weight loss.

The 2 stands for 2 hours of screen time per day.

Limiting the amount of screen time per day may encourage active play, exercise, and less time sitting.

This could also discourage mindless snacking in front of the TV or computer, therefore enabling you to better monitor the amount of calories your child is eating.

The 1 stands for ONE hour of exercise per day!

Exercise has been shown to burn extra calories, maintain a healthy weight, or help encourage weight loss.

The 0 stands for ZERO sugary drinks, such as soda, juices, or other sugar-sweetened beverages!

Children as well as adults may have a problem with added sugar. 

By limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks your child has, you may limit the amount of added sugar your child has in a day.

And this may translate into better overall weight loss.

By adopting and utilizing the 5-2-1-0 approach, you may empower your child to make healthier changes, lose weight (if needed), and reduce their overall risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and other health-related conditions.



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