Kids and cholesterol

When it comes to your children’s health, your biggest concerns are probably common childhood ailments like ear infections, tonsillitis and chickenpox. However, there is another health issue that needs to be considered, even for children — cholesterol.

Even though high cholesterol sounds like an adult health problem and not one that afflicts children, a new study reveals that monitoring cholesterol at an early age can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease later in life.

According to a team of doctors at UC San Diego, including Dr. Daniel Steinberg, professor emeritus of medicine, Dr. Christopher Glass and Dr. Joseph Witztum, current efforts at lowering cholesterol levels are simply “too little, too late.”

“Our review of the literature convinces us that more aggressive and earlier intervention will probably prevent considerably more than 30 percent of coronary heart disease,” said Steinberg.

These findings, coupled with the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., highlight the importance of considering cholesterol levels for family members of every age.

The UC San Diego team recommends lowering cholesterol levels to less than 50 mg a day, even in children and young adults.

Create a low-cholesterol diet that your whole family can enjoy with these healthy-eating tips from the American Heart Association.

•First, use liquid vegetable oils in place of solid fats when cooking. Canola, soybean and olive oils are healthier alternatives to other cholesterol-laden items like butter and shortening.

•When possible, substitute egg whites for whole eggs. The cholesterol in eggs is found in the yolks, so eliminating the yolks is a quick and easy way to lower your cholesterol intake.

•Choose seafood at least twice a week. Fish is lower in saturated fat than meat or poultry.

Remember, lowering cholesterol intake now can prevent life-threatening health conditions later in life.