How to Make Sure Your Child's Heart Stays Healthy

A healthy heart is paramount for overall good health and a long life. As adults, we tend to think that the condition of children's hearts will be fine as they are young. However, this is not always the case and with today's sedentary lifestyles parents need to pay attention to a few important factors that could help their children live a long and illness-free life.

Increasing physical exercise is a must and with obesity on the increase, developing healthy eating patterns are even more essential than in the past.

Exercise will help to control your child's weight and can reduce blood pressure (stressed children is an increasing problem). Also, regular exercise can prevent the onset of diabetes and other illnesses, as well as increasing good cholesterol.

Guidelines from the American Heart Association suggest that kids should take part in about 30 minutes of strenuous activity every day. This can be in one go, or in two or three sessions.

Getting the right nutrition into children can be difficult in today's fast food culture, but they need the following:

1. Fruit and vegetables
2. Whole grains
3. Lots of fiber and protein
4. Low fat dairy foods

They don't need lots of:

1. Sodium
2. Trans fats

If obesity is a problem, then a strict count on calories consumed each day will be necessary. It's a pain, but young kids need about 900 calories each day and teens need 1800 calories (girls) and 2200 (boys). Much more than this (and combined with a lack of exercise) and kids will start to put on weight.

So, once these measures are in place, just remember that the number one factor that will keep your kids' hearts strong and healthy is to avoid over-eating. That's it - eat less food!

Maybe you could switch off the TV more, hide the computer games and perhaps encourage your child to engage in a spot of gardening. I know it might sound unlikely, but if this process is started at a young age and encouraged then you are less likely to encounter problems.

You've probably noticed how teens seem to slow down a lot when compared to when they were very young. Here lies the root of the problem.

So, to keep your child's heart healthy and strong, try to encourage the whole family to engage in some daily exercise. Keep it varied and remember that even housework can count as exercise.

Now, can you get your kids to clean their bedrooms? If it's messy, it could take a good 30 minutes of lifting, bending and moving around.

Perfect!

Washington has been writing articles online for 5 years. Not only does he specialize in health, travel and music, but you can also check out his latest website at http://www.radiocontrolledwallclock.com which helps people to find the best radio controlled wall clock for their home.

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