A Healthy Heart Begins in Childhood

High levels of blood pressure early in life track into adulthood and are associated with chronic disease. Diet behaviors are established during childhood, and more than 90 percent of children ages 4 to 18, already exceed recommended sodium intake limits. We know that sodium reduction can help keep blood pressure in check, but do we need to worry about sodium consumption even in children?

Elevated blood pressure rarely results in adverse clinical events in children. Despite this, increased blood pressure during childhood has been linked with the beginnings of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, diabetes, atherosclerotic heart disease and stroke. Increased childhood blood pressure levels tend to trend toward even higher blood pressure in adulthood, raising the risk of blood pressure related CVD as these children become adults. 

A meta-analysis of thirteen studies showed that lower sodium consumption in children was associated with lower blood pressure. Since the early effects of increased blood pressure begin in childhood and taste preferences develop early, it is important to get children on the right track by keeping sodium levels down. It may be easier than it sounds, too. In one study, after just three weeks of eating lower sodium foods, children’s taste preferences changed enough so that they no longer preferred the higher sodium option. 

The Bottom Line: Reducing processed foods, supporting mandates for school lunch improvements, and encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption are all ways to help put children on the path to a healthier heart in the future. While ditching the salt shaker at the table is a great start, think beyond the salt shaker and take a look in your pantry for high-sodium culprits. Packaged food products are often filled with sodium to extend shelf life; encourage a diet rich in whole foods for a healthier heart. 

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