$Unique_ID{BRK01620}
$Pretitle{Community and Social Problems}
$Title{Children and Low Cholesterol Diet}
$Subject{diet cholesterol child}
$Volume{Q-26}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Children and Low Cholesterol Diet


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QUESTION:  I know I have heard that even children should have a low
cholesterol diet.  I am not sure I understand just how that it is done.  Can
you please explain?  Do you think this is a good idea?

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ANSWER:  It's a very good idea.  High levels of cholesterol in the diet lead
to atherosclerosis, or clogging of the arteries.  It may take years for high
cholesterol levels to damage arteries, but why let it start early?  Autopsies
of children who have died of other causes have shown that artery clogging has
already begun in some children.  In addition, there is a direct link between
children's diet and coronary artery disease in adults.
     The trouble with saying that children should cut back on their fat and
cholesterol intake is that it is hard to create a diet that does so and still
gives sufficient nutrition for growth.  Growing children need more protein and
calcium in their diets than adults do.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has
made several recommendations for children's diet.  The first is that infants
should be breast fed when possible, or barring that, fed infant formula for
the first six months, followed by supplemental foods of cereal and fruits with
whole cow's milk for the second six months.  After age 1, children should
receive a balanced varied diet with food from each of the four major food
groups.  The key word here is balanced.  Diets that avoid extremes are safest
for children.
     The Academy recommends that children over age 2 limit fat intake to 30
percent to 40 percent of total calories.  (Many processed foods now state the
amounts of fat and cholesterol on their labels.)  Keep to these guidelines and
your child should be well on the way to healthy eating habits.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
