Poor Diets are the Cause of Heart Disease in Kids

A new study* has confirmed that heart disease is showing up in children as young as three. The study also reveals the cause: poor diet. 

The study of 8,900 children ages 2-11 confirms that American kids, like American adults, eat too much salt and sugar, and not nearly enough fresh fruits , vegetables and whole grains. 

Here are some of the details:

• Only 3 percent of boys and 2 percent of girls eat whole grains every day
• 50 percent drink too many sugar-sweetened beverages every day
• Only 10 percent eat the recommended 4 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day
• 30 percent are overweight or obese (a number that mirrors our adult population)

Most concerning of all, 40 percent are already on the road to heart disease with concerning levels of cholesterol. And cholesterol issues were revealed in children as young as 3 years of age.

But there’s an easy solution. Add nutrient-dense foods to your family’s diet every day including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Replacing a couple of bad choices with a couple of good choices can make the world of difference.

That’s the idea behind Step One Food’s two-per-day system. Over time, two simple changes per day can make an enormous difference for both adults and kids.

Reference: *Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Status of Cardiovascular Health in US Children Up to 11 Years of Age: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2003–2010.