Are You a Parent? Here's How Your Best Cholesterol Lowering Efforts May Be Being Sabotaged

Making Your Cholesterol Lowering Efforts Extend to Your Kids

(LifeWire) - If you're a parent, you're accustomed to putting your kids first -- even when it comes to heart health. You'll schedule their doctor's appointments before your own and make sure they're eating healthy foods, even if it means there isn't enough for you.

But when it comes to managing your cholesterol, this attitude can be your downfall. High cholesterol levels contribute to your risk of heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.

It's important to prioritize your health as well, because, after all, you need to be healthy to take good care of your kids.

The Pitfalls

Parents, especially those with multiple children in the house, are faced with a time crunch. After dealing with all of the demands of their children's schedules, parents might find themselves with little time to schedule their own doctor's appointments or even to cook a healthy meal. Not eating healthy foods and getting minimal amounts of exercise can contribute to high cholesterol levels and overall poor health.

According to a 2007 study in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, adults with children in their households were much more likely to consume higher-fat foods than their childless peers. In fact, the study found that adults with children consumed 4.9 more grams of fat in a 24-hour period than those without children.

The Solutions

Making a healthy lifestyle overhaul can seem like a huge undertaking, so start small. Try to make one change at a time and stick with that change before adding another.

Here are some ideas from the American Academy of Family Physicians for improving the heart health of parents and the entire family:

• Don't buy junk food. If no junk food is in the house, then neither you nor your children will eat it. And you won't be tempted to pick at your children's leftovers.
• Reduce your portions. The key is to remember that portions weren't always as large as they are now. According to the Prevention Institute, a 1950s bottle of Coke meant to serve the whole family was 26 ounces. Today, the 20-ounce bottle is marketed toward individuals. So, instead of ordering the adult-size meals at a fast-food restaurant, try sticking with the child-size portion.
• Cut out the pop. Make soda something you only have on special occasions. Stop buying it, to avoid temptation at home.
• Start a family activity. Join a basketball league together or start a family walk. You could also register the whole family for road races on Saturday mornings. Try to find activities that you enjoy and then get the whole family involved.
• Make time for yourself. Schedule a weekly exercise class or find time to attend a healthy cooking class. Make time to get to the doctor for your annual checkups. And if you just can't find the time, go for a walk during your child's soccer practice or take a jog during halftime at your kid's football game.

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