High cholesterol and healthy childhood nutrition

High cholesterol levels can be genetically determined and can occur in some people at an early age. Although your child can't do anything about their genetics, they can choose their lifestyle to lower the high levels. If this is not enough, according to the researchers, medication can also be an option.

Lifestyle and high cholesterol

Prevent heart disease in childhood through healthy eating and family sports

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the fats or lipids in the blood. It is also transported through the blood bound to proteins. Medicine calls this combination of proteins and cholesterol lipoprotein. You may have heard of different types of cholesterol. These are mainly based on the type of cholesterol that also contains lipoprotein.

Low density lipoprotein, or LDL, is sometimes called bad cholesterol. It transports such particles through the body. LDL cholesterol accumulates on the walls of the arteries, making them hard and tight. Highly compressed lipoprotein or HDL is considered good cholesterol. It absorbs excess cholesterol and transports it back to the liver.

While the body needs some cholesterol to build healthy cells, too much of it can increase a person's risk of heart disease. A high cholesterol level, especially a high LDL level, can lead to the formation of fat deposits in blood vessels. Ultimately, these deposits can make blood flow through the arteries more difficult. In this case, the heart may not get as much oxygenated blood as it needs. This increases the risk of a heart attack. If the blood flow to the brain is impaired, this can lead to a stroke.

Countermeasures at an early age

Girl on sofa with cola chips and remote control in hand

High cholesterol tends to run in families and genetics play a role in a person's risk of developing high cholesterol. For example, the genetic modification can prevent cells from effectively removing LDL cholesterol from the blood or prevent the liver from producing too much cholesterol.

If a young person has a high cholesterol level like a child, you usually need to change your lifestyle to lower cholesterol. Regular exercise and healthy eating, as well as weight, can make a big contribution to controlling cholesterol levels. It is usually the case that a child is already active in sports during childhood. However, it should continue these activities with the goal of having at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Parents should also limit the amount of time their children spend in front of computers, tablets, televisions, and phones.

A healthy diet also plays a crucial role. This is why working with a nutritionist can be very useful for families with children. A nutritionist can assess your child's eating habits and recommend changes. For example, avoiding processed foods that contain large amounts of saturated fats and sugars. The expert in this area can also offer ideas for healthy eating habits and recipes for the whole family.

Woman with child clap with doctor high cholesterol

In some cases, lifestyle changes may not be enough to keep cholesterol at bay. Therefore, medication is sometimes required to lower cholesterol to a healthy level.

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