Did you know that some children as young as eight years old are already displaying signs of heart disease? Very few children visit cardiologists and receive heart scans, so most of the time no one knows that silent damage is occurring to the heart. This is a worry because heart disease is the nation’s biggest killer and the incidence is only expected to rise.

Research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions showed that heart scans performed on obese children have revealed signs of heart disease. Obese children were found to have 27 percent more muscle mass in the left ventricle of their heart and also 12 percent thicker heart muscles than normal weight children. Both of these signs are indicators of heart disease. 40 percent of the obese children were classified as high risk for significant heart problems later in life because they had thickened muscle in the heart and also their heart had reduced pumping ability.

It is important to note that none of the obese children in the study who were found to have heart problems experienced any symptoms.

This is worrying because no one would know these children are at risk of serious heart problems as adults and a potentially shortened lifespan. According to Linyuan Jing, Ph.D., lead author of the study and researcher at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania, "Ultimately we hope that the effects we see in the hearts of these children are reversible; however, it is possible that there could be permanent damage. This should be further motivation for parents to help children lead a healthy lifestyle."

Obesity in childhood is a serious health threat. It doesn't just affect the heart; these children often have high blood pressure, high blood fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides and a fatty liver. Some are even developing type 2 diabetes before adolescence. The weight gained during childhood is extremely difficult to lose because puberty often triggers further weight gain, and lifestyle factors in early adulthood while working or studying also often promote weight gain.

The best way to encourage healthy eating in your children is to set a good example yourself. Naturally kids will eat some junk food while socializing, but if the majority of their diet is comprised of natural home prepared meals, they have a much better chance of a long, healthy and happy life.

The following points can help to keep you and your child’s heart healthy:

  • Look after the health of your liver. Your liver is the most metabolically active organ in your body. Two of its main jobs are fat burning and detoxification. If your liver is healthy you will find it easier to maintain a healthy weight. If your liver is healthy you will also have a healthy level of cholesterol in your blood. If you have a fatty liver, please follow the guidelines in my book, Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It. If you are carrying excess weight on your abdomen, my liver tonic, Livatone Plus, should help to shift it more easily.
  • Sugar and all carbohydrate rich foods can raise your cholesterol because your liver turns the carbohydrate into fat. Therefore, cutting down or cutting out foods like bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, sugary drinks and any food that contains flour or sugar is a very useful way of keeping your cholesterol in the healthy range. I know it can feel almost impossible to quit eating sugar, especially if your body is accustomed to it and you suffer with unstable blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). That’s when a blood sugar balancing supplement can really help. The herbs Gymnema and bitter melon, as well as the minerals chromium, magnesium and manganese all help to stabilize blood sugar and thereby reduce hunger and cravings. Glicemic Balance capsules contain these ingredients and are best taken with each meal
  • Avoid consuming unhealthy fats. Most vegetable oil is far too high in omega 6 fats which promote inflammation. When these fats are heated (during cooking) they are further damaged and become very harmful to the body. The healthiest fats to include in your diet are avocados, extra virgin olive oil, macadamia nut oil, organic coconut oil, pastured butter and ghee. The last three fats are best for cooking.
  • Excessive inflammation is a major driver of heart disease. This is because inflammatory chemicals can cause damage to the lining of the arteries. This can cause high blood pressure and hardened arteries prone to blood clots. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is the precursor of glutathione. Glutathione is your body’s most potent antioxidant, helping to reduce inflammation.

 

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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