The Best Gift is a Healthy Heart

By Roberta Duyff, MS, RD, FAND

Published January 21, 2014

February 14th is Valentine's Day, and the best gift you can give your kids is nutrition for a healthy heart!

Compelling research suggests that fatty buildup in arteries begins in childhood and is more likely with higher blood cholesterol levels. For that reason, the American Heart Association offers advice for children and teens about these related health risks:

Cigarette smoking: Discourage it.
High blood pressure: Identify and treat it.
Obesity: Prevent it or reduce weight.
Diabetes: Diagnose and treat it.
Inactivity: Encourage regular aerobic exercise (30 to 60 minutes) on most days of the week. At the same time, kids need to eat enough fruits and vegetables each day, and choose foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.

For cardiovascular health, young people, ages 2 through 19 years, should maintain acceptable blood cholesterol levels:

Levels	Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)	LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
High	200 or greater	130 or greater
Borderline	170 to 199	100 to 129
Acceptable	Less than 170	Less than 100

Reviewed June 2013Roberta Duyff, MS, RD, FAND, is author of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide and 365 Days of Healthy Eating.