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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