Guiding Your Child Towards a Heart-Healthy Life
Clogged arteries and heart attacks are usually adult concerns. However, bad habits that lead to heart problems start at an early age. Preventing those problems does as well.听
鈥 starts as early as birth,鈥 says Dr. Amanda Lin, board-certified family medicine physician at 日本av色情片. 鈥By starting early, you can decrease risk factors that are associated with heart disease later in life.鈥听
What can you do today to help your 肠丑颈濒诲鈥檚 heart stay healthy throughout every stage of life?听
Build a Healthy Plate听
Avoid feeding your child fast food and sugar. Instead, make sure your child eats plenty of nutrient-dense foods.听听
Dr. Lin suggests the following:听
- Dairy. From one to two years of age, your child should drink at least two cups of whole milk daily. Then, transition your little one to low-fat or skim milk.听
- Fruits and vegetables. Introduce your child to a variety of colorful . If their meals resemble the rainbow, you鈥檙e on the right track.听
- Lean protein sources. Chicken and fish are great options. So is tofu. When choosing meats to cook, look for low-fat options.听
- Whole grains. Don鈥檛 keep white bread in your house. Instead, incorporate whole grains into familiar dishes, such as barley in soup, oats in meatballs or brown rice in a casserole.听
Exercise Their Hearts听
Exercise helps your 肠丑颈濒诲鈥檚 heart stay strong and healthy. It also helps your child maintain a healthy weight.听
鈥淏uild physical activity into your 肠丑颈濒诲鈥檚 daily routine,鈥 Dr. Lin says. 鈥淚deally, choose a physical activity they enjoy doing and can continue doing into adulthood.鈥听
To help your child get enough activity, the recommends the following daily guidelines:听
- Infants should get at least 30 minutes of tummy time.听
- Toddlers need to spend a minimum of three hours playing or walking.听听
- Elementary-aged children ought to engage in an hour or more of activity almost every day. Mix in some activities that strengthen bones and muscles such as dance or gymnastics.听
- Adolescents should aim for an hour or more of physical activity most days of the week, along with and a few bone- and muscle-strengthening activities.听
Make Sleep a Priority听
On top of improving your 肠丑颈濒诲鈥檚 mood, good sleep protects your 肠丑颈濒诲鈥檚 heart. Without enough sleep, your child is at higher risk for obesity and high blood pressure, two major risk factors for heart disease.听
Infants should sleep at least 12 out of every 24 hours. Toddlers need as many as 14 hours of sleep, and teens need 8 or 10 hours of shuteye each night.听
Help your child get good sleep with these tips.听
- Dim the bedroom lights before bedtime.听
- Follow the same bedtime routine every night.听
- Limit the number of activities your child participates in during the day.听
- Turn off all screens at least an hour before bedtime.听
鈥Instill healthy lifestyle choices when your child is young,鈥 Dr. Lin says, 鈥渁nd try to lead by example.鈥澨听
Find a doctor at 日本av色情片 today to help your little ones enjoy good heart health tomorrow.听