Heart Health For Children
Heart disease can affect people of all ages, To mark World Heart Day (29 September), the World Heart Federation is urging individuals and parents to reduce their own and their family's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The message is that healthy children lead to healthy adults, and healthy adults lead to healthy families and communities.
Heart Health for Children
Many serious diseases in adulthood, including heart disease and stroke, have their roots in adolescence, leading to illness or premature death later in life:
* The vast majority of tobacco users worldwide, began when they were adolescents, and if a child's parents smoke, the child is three times more likely to smoke than one whose parents did not smoke.
* Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and are more likely to develop diabetes and CVD at a younger age.
* Physical activity earned in childhood continues into adulthood, contributing to your child's decreased risk for heart disease and stroke later in life.
A Heart-Healthy Diet
* Make healthy food exciting for children. Choose colourful fruits and vegetables, fish (preferably oily fish such as salmon and fresh tuna), fibre-rich whole grains, nuts, legumes and seeds.
* Involve children in the planning and preparation of meals. Ensure there are healthy options available at home for meals and snacks.
* Make family meals a special time to eat together. When everyone sits down together to eat, there's less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much.
* Prepare your child's lunch at home and make sure healthy options are taken to school. Encourage children to make healthy food choices at the school canteen. Lobby your children's school for good food choices.
* Ensure every evening meal contains at least 2-3 servings of vegetables per child. Avoid foods with high levels of saturated fats, trans-fats, salt and sugar.
* Be wary of processed foods, which often contain high levels of salt. Total salt intake should also be limited to less than 5g per day (about one tablespoon).
Get Active
Provide children with opportunities for increased physical activity. Be active with your children. This could include walking or cycling to school together.
Limit time spent watching television or playing computer/video games to no more than two hours a day and offer more active alternatives.
If there are not enough safe, green spaces for your children to play, lobby your local town council through letter-writing campaigns and petitions, to ensure cities and towns are developed with infrastructures that support heart-healthy living.
Teens want the power to make their own decisions. Emphasise that they just need to be physically active regularly. This includes playing football with friends, dancing or other activities they enjoy. The social element will help boost the fun factor and encourage enthusiasm for regular exercise.
HealthToday September 2013
Heart Health for Children
Many serious diseases in adulthood, including heart disease and stroke, have their roots in adolescence, leading to illness or premature death later in life:
* The vast majority of tobacco users worldwide, began when they were adolescents, and if a child's parents smoke, the child is three times more likely to smoke than one whose parents did not smoke.
* Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and are more likely to develop diabetes and CVD at a younger age.
* Physical activity earned in childhood continues into adulthood, contributing to your child's decreased risk for heart disease and stroke later in life.
A Heart-Healthy Diet
* Make healthy food exciting for children. Choose colourful fruits and vegetables, fish (preferably oily fish such as salmon and fresh tuna), fibre-rich whole grains, nuts, legumes and seeds.
* Involve children in the planning and preparation of meals. Ensure there are healthy options available at home for meals and snacks.
* Make family meals a special time to eat together. When everyone sits down together to eat, there's less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much.
* Prepare your child's lunch at home and make sure healthy options are taken to school. Encourage children to make healthy food choices at the school canteen. Lobby your children's school for good food choices.
* Ensure every evening meal contains at least 2-3 servings of vegetables per child. Avoid foods with high levels of saturated fats, trans-fats, salt and sugar.
* Be wary of processed foods, which often contain high levels of salt. Total salt intake should also be limited to less than 5g per day (about one tablespoon).
Get Active
Provide children with opportunities for increased physical activity. Be active with your children. This could include walking or cycling to school together.
Limit time spent watching television or playing computer/video games to no more than two hours a day and offer more active alternatives.
If there are not enough safe, green spaces for your children to play, lobby your local town council through letter-writing campaigns and petitions, to ensure cities and towns are developed with infrastructures that support heart-healthy living.
Teens want the power to make their own decisions. Emphasise that they just need to be physically active regularly. This includes playing football with friends, dancing or other activities they enjoy. The social element will help boost the fun factor and encourage enthusiasm for regular exercise.
HealthToday September 2013
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