As parents, it’s understandable if you don’t immediately think of your preschool child when the word ‘cholesterol’ comes up. Cholesterol is something to watch out for in connection with eating too many greasy sausages, streaks of crispy bacon and hash browns - right?

Well, yes, but cholesterol is much more complex than that. And yes, levels of cholesterol affect children, too!

But first, let’s delve into a little more detail about cholesterol and where it comes from.

What is cholesterol and where does it come from?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver that helps build cell membranes and is used to make hormones like oestrogen, testosterone, and Vitamin D, helping the body to digest and absorb fat. The liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs.

Although cholesterol mainly comes from the body, it also comes from some of the foods we eat. Foods that are high in trans and saturated fat, for example. Foods that come from animals, such as egg yolks, meat, seafood, poultry, and dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream are all high in cholesterol.

There are also different types of cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are known as “bad cholesterol” as they can build up on the walls of the arteries. While high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are known as “good cholesterol”, as they carry the substance away from the arteries and out of the body.

Now let’s look at how cholesterol affects children in particular.

How does cholesterol affect children?

As previously mentioned, although cholesterol is mainly something for parents to think about in connection with their own bodies, it can also affect young children, as heart disease can start in childhood. Therefore, higher levels of cholesterol in preschoolers can increase their chances of heart disease and strokes as they grow.

Young children don’t produce as much cholesterol as adults, but cutting back on fried foods, pastries, crackers and chip snacks high in fat and salt are recommended to keep their levels healthy.

Fun Fact: Despite being a great source of protein and other nutrients, people have long been advised to restrict eggs to limit dietary cholesterol. However, with more scientific evidence, it has now been confirmed that eating eggs doesn’t increase the risk of heart disease for healthy people.

Note - this may not apply if you have diabetes. Consult your doctor if you are unsure.

Top Tip: Children are wonderful mimics. Therefore, to help them develop healthy habits early on, be a good role model by choosing healthier eating habits for yourself. They are likely to follow your lead!

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