To Your Health
September, 2024 (Vol. 18, Issue 09) |
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Heart-Healthy Kids
By Editorial Staff
You've probably heard about the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and your eating habits may even reflect that knowledge. But don't forget about your kids, because the Mediterranean diet appears to provide the same heart-healthy benefits to children as it does to adults.
The Mediterranean diet emphasizes consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats; while limiting red meat and dairy. (For a comprehensive list,
click here.) Researchers have found that children and teens benefit from this diet in the same manner adults do, particularly with respect to heart health. Their findings are courtesy of a review of nine clinical trials involving children / teens ages 3-18 that assessed how the diet impacted cardiometabolic markers.
If you don't already know it, children's heart health is suffering much like adults' heart health. In fact, according to a recent study, most children and adolescents in the U.S. have poor overall cardiovascular health, with less than on in three meeting the American Heart Association's standards for high heart health based on variables including physical activity, body-mass index, cholesterol, blood pressure, sleep quality, smoking status – and yes, diet.
If added sugar, refined carbohydrates and fast food are common in your home, it's time to make a change: for your heart health and the heart health of your entire family. Talk to your doctor for more information.
