Teaching children from a young
age to eat healthy fats can have
lifelong health benefits
according to a new study
published in the American Heart
Association’s journal
Circulation in August, 2007.
The study focused on over one
thousand children in Findland
who were followed from the age
of 7 months through age 14. The
researchers found that children
who were taught to focus on the
healthy fats found in fish,
nuts, seeds, and plant oils had
slightly lower cholesterol
levels compared to children who
ate an unrestricted diet by the
time they reached the age of 14.
Dr. Art Labovitz, cardiology
director at Saint Louis
University School of Medicine
pointed out that even a small
decrease in cholesterol levels
can have a big influence over
the course of your child’s life.
“If you study large numbers of
people, the small increments
result in a significant change
in heart attacks and cardiac
deaths,” said Dr. Art Labovitz.
Dr. Harri Niinikoski, lead
author of the study done at the
University of Turku in Finland,
said children begin forming
their eating and lifestyle
habits in childhood. “We think
that this lifestyle change can
be started early,” he said.
Dr. Sarah Blumenschein, a
pediatric cardiologist with the
University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, said the study
shows that early intervention is
the key to maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. “The earlier you
intervene, the more likely you
are going to be successful,” she
said.
The key is to teach your
children, starting as young as
possilbe, to appreciate the
healthy fats found in fish,
nuts, seeds, and plant oils. By
eating a little less meat and
avoiding the saturated fas and
trans fats which are in most
processed foods, fast foods and
junk foods – your children will
lower their total fat intake and
enjoy more of the benefits that
healthy fats have to offer. As
your children grow into their
teens and begin eating more
meals away from home, their
healthy habits will guide them
towards healthier food choices
when unsupervised.
We encourage parents everywhere
to read the nutrition
information on the foods that
their children eat. The healthy
fats are listed as unsaturated
fats, monounsaturated and
polyunsaturated fats. The
unhealthy fats are listed as
saturated fats and trans fats.
