How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally, High Cholesterol & Children 

High cholesterol is a concern for anyone, especially in children. Here is a look at what it is and what can be done about it.

High cholesterol - what is it? High cholesterol happens when you have an excessive amount of cholesterol in your blood. There are many factors, from genetics, lifestyles, and diseases that can cause it, all of them can put you at an increased risk of having heart problems. It has been linked to heart attacks and stroke. Basically, over time the excess cholesterol starts to line the walls of your arteries. This can slow down or even stop the flow of blood to the heart, brain, and other vital organs.

What is the purpose of cholesterol? Cholesterol is essential to the creation of hormones and cells, and produced by our body. It is also found in animal product such as eggs, fishes and dairy products. Cholesterol is important to our bodily functions, but it is dangerous to have to much of it and too little of it poses other issues too. So it is better to have a balance level of cholesterol.

Children’s cholesterol Children cholesterol level are measured differently from that of an adult. For age 2 to 19 years old, total cholesterol level should be under 170 with LDL cholesterol below 100. Total cholesterol at 170 to 200 and LDL between 100 and 130 is considered borderline risk. For children with cholesterol of more then 200 level and LDL level of more then 130 are considered high risk, more so for girls with HDL levels of under 50 and boys at levels below 45. Children with LDL levels over 100 will most likely be treated for high cholesterol especially if they have a family history of heart problems, more so if the child have previous heart problems.

Do kids need treatment? There are several reasons why children with high cholesterol need to be treated. Having higher cholesterol levels at a young age can place them at an increased risk for cholesterol-related problems as adults. Arterial damage can occur from cholesterol even in young adults and teens. Plus, healthy habits are learned, so teaching them at a young age can protect kids from health problems later on.

Treatment for high cholesterol For most children, dietary changes are the primary treatment for high cholesterol. Making these changes can improve your child’s overall health as well as the health of the rest of your family. Limit fat intake to under 30% of the calories eaten in a day. Keep calorie counts between 1500 and 2400 calories per day, depending on your child’s age and activity levels. Cut back on saturated fats whenever possible, choosing lean meats, low fat dairy products, and healthier cooking oils. Do not limit fat entirely. Increase fiber intake to 25-30 grams per day by including whole grains, cereals and vegetables into the diet. Avoid sugary foods as much as possible, particularly nutrient-void foods like candy and sodas.

The changes to a child diet will be most successful if the entire family take part of it. Firstly the child sees the parent setting example and will most like follow suite and secondly the child that need the change most will not feel single out. The food can be made as appealing as possible to boost their appetite. Allowing the child to plan the meal with you and help preparing is a good way to get them dug into the healthier diet. Encourage healthy level of activities on a daily basis. Most importantly, we need to be realistic, we cannot completely avoid sugary food and video game. So learn to moderate and you and your child will all be happy.

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