Check out this startling statistic from the Bolgalusa Heart Study:

 By the age of 12, an estimated 70% of American children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries.  

• Conducted over 25 years, starting in 1973, this study is one of the largest conducted on children with 14,000 black and white children participating. Researchers found children as young as two years olds consuming the typical American diet (high sodium, high fat, low nutrients).    
•  Earlier, unrelated studies, showed the beginning of heart disease in 18 year olds, however, the Bolgalusa researchers found “grossly visible fatty streaks…in the aortas of children after age three and…in the coronary arteries beginning in the second decade of life.”    

To reiterate: Coronary arteries are the arteries of the heart and with the typical American diet, we are seeing children in the second decade of life (starting at 10 years old) having plaque build-up in their arteries just as what traditionally was seen in middle aged people.  It does not have to be like this.  

• All people deserve nutritous, enjoyable food and opportunities to engage in fun, physical activity.   Typically, we don’t educate our children about good nutrition or “watch” what our kids eat until they become overweight. 
• However, the statistics above clearly point out that we are hurting our children with a poor diet in ways that we can not visually see daily.  Although we commonly think of thin children as being healthy, we must realize that fatty foods still everyone’s heart negatively. 
• You and your children can live a healthy, active life and you have the opportunity to make any change to your lifestyle that will improve your health daily. 
• Today is a new day.  How will you improve your health today? 

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