If your child has been diagnosed with high cholesterol, you will want to take steps to reduce it.You can take steps to get your child's cholesterol levels back into the normal range with a combination of diet and exercise.
Step 1: Limit the amount of fat your child eats.
Reducing your child's daily fat consumption is an important way to reduce their cholesterol levels.Less than 30% of your child's calories should come from fat.Saturated fat should be less than 10% of your child's daily calories.Cholesterol should be less than 200mg per day.You should read the labels on the food you buy to find out the fat content.The guidelines on fat consumption do not apply to children under the age of 2.
Step 2: Look for low-fat milk and other dairy products.
One of the easiest ways to cut back on fat in your child's diet is to choose milk and dairy products that are low in fat.It's ideal to have skim milk or 1% milk.
Step 3: Pick whole foods that your child can eat.
Many processed foods are high in saturated fat.Ensure that your child is getting plenty of cholesterol lowering fiber and other benefits by choosing whole foods.Your child should be eating more fruits and vegetables.Whole wheat pasta, oats, and brown rice have a low glycemic index and are good for your child.If you want your child's health to be better, choose foods with healthier fats, such as fish, avocados, and nuts.
Step 4: Your child's diet should include a lot of lean meat.
It is important for your child's health to have lean protein sources.Replacing fat sources with lean ones may help to reduce your child's cholesterol numbers as well.Skinless poultry such as chicken and turkey, lean cuts of beef or pork fish, shrimp, cod, crab, and tuna beans, as well as egg whites, are some of the good lean sources.
Step 5: Don't eat fast or frozen food.
The health of meals made at home from scratch is superior to fast food alternatives.Taking the time to cook healthy meals from scratch will not only improve your child's cholesterol levels, but will also teach him or her the importance of putting an effort into healthy nutrition and cooking habits.Your child will be influenced by this life skill for the rest of his or her life.You can learn how to cook healthy meals at home.
Step 6: You can learn your child's target weight.
If your child is overweight or obese, it's a big risk factor for high cholesterol levels.Ask your child's doctor to help determine their ideal body weight.This is dependent on a number of factors, including age, height, sex, and bone structure.Information about your child's weight can be found on an age- and sex-adjusted growth chart.It is possible for your child's doctor to show you a more accurate picture of how their current body weight compares to their ideal.
Step 7: Increase your child's physical activity.
Aerobic exercise increases your child's heart rate for a long period of time.Every day, at least 60 minutes of aerobic exercise is recommended.Aerobic exercise increases the good cholesterol in your child.The impact of bad cholesterol on the body can be reduced by having more good cholesterol.Higher levels of the good cholesterol are beneficial for your child's health, and can be increased through exercise.Exercise can help with weight loss and reduce bad cholesterol.
Step 8: Make exercise enjoyable.
For children, it may be helpful to incorporate more fun into their exercise routine, as adults often enjoy activities like jogging, swimming, brisk walking, or riding a bike.Consider signing your child up for sports that get his or her heart rate up, like soccer or basketball, that he or she can do with his friends.Signing up for a sport will keep your child committed.
Step 9: It's a good idea to make exercise a family activity.
If the whole family gets involved in something like going to the park to play, or using the weekend to go on an outdoor adventure, it may be easier to motivate your child to exercise.Make sure that the activity your child does for exercise is consistent and that they enjoy doing it.You child will be motivated to keep up the positive lifestyle changes.
Step 10: Your child's cholesterol levels will be tested.
It is important to have your child's cholesterol values measured if you suspect that they have high cholesterol due to a family history of the condition.The official way to diagnose "hypercholesterolemia" is via the blood test that can measure the cholesterol and total fat levels.A child is eligible for medical treatment of high cholesterol if he or she has a bad cholesterol.If your child has risk factors such as a family history of high cholesterol or high blood pressure, he or she will be eligible for treatment.The guidelines for treatment were established by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Step 11: You should have a repeat blood test in three months.
If your child's first blood test comes back positive for high cholesterol, the doctor will likely recommend some lifestyle changes.A repeat blood test will be required in three months.At three months, your child's doctor can assess if the lifestyle changes were enough to bring cholesterol back into the normal range or if it was headed in the right direction.After the second blood test, your child may be able to consider taking medication to reduce his or her cholesterol.
Step 12: Start with a cholesterol-lowering medication.
Children over the age of 8 are offered cholesterol lowering drugs if their cholesterol levels continue to rise even after changes to their lifestyle.There are medications that your child can try.Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is a "statin" medication that may be tried on your child by your doctor.To assess the effectiveness of the new medication, your child will need to have a repeat blood test 3 months after starting it.Your child's doctor will check in at this time to make sure the medication is not causing any side effects.Make sure to tell your child's doctor if you notice any side effects while they are taking the medication.
Step 13: Reducing your child's cholesterol is important to you.
If your child has been diagnosed with high cholesterol, he or she is at risk of developing plaque build-ups on the arteries.Your child has a heightened risk of future heart disease and strokes because of these plaques.If your child's blood tests show that he or she is in the normal range, follow through with treatment to reduce his or her cholesterol.Your child's cholesterol needs to be maintained at a healthy level.