| World Heart Day was on 29th September 2013; the importance of a life-course approach to the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with a focus on women as well as children. Healthy children lead to healthy adults who are foundations of healthy families and communities. |
| According to World Heart Federation, heart disease is actually the number 1 killer of women causing 1 in 3 female deaths; shocking, that’s about 1 death per minute! |
| It is vital that women understand their cardiovascular disease risk early on and take action to protect themselves and their family. |
| Children are vulnerable too. The risk for cardiovascular disease can begin before birth during foetal development and increase further during childhood with exposure to unhealthy diets, lack of exercise and smoking. |
| DesiDieter expert Keya Mukherjee recommends these steps for you to reduce yours and your family’s risk. |
| Firstly we need to know about the risk factors of Heart Disease: |
| Major risk factors for heart disease in women: |
| · Obesity |
| · Physical inactivity |
| · High blood pressure |
| · High blood cholesterol |
| · Diabetes |
| · Tobacco use or exposure |
| Risk factors for Children: |
| · Physical inactivity |
| · Malnutrition and Obesity |
| · Rheumatic heart disease |
| · Tobacco exposure |
| Tips for parents and women to stay with healthy heart: |
| · Maintain a healthy weight by regular physical activity and healthy diet. |
| · Go for regular check-ups. |
| · Quite smoking and avoid second-hand smoking. |
| · Stay in touch with family and friends. Research has shown that people who lack social support are more vulnerable to heart disease. |
| All the tips easier to said than done. Right? Well you may start by making small changes to you and your child’s eating and exercise habits. |
| Here is the road map to get you going: |
| Start now: Maintain 7 days food dairy, record everything you or your child eat, how much, when and where, what you were doing when you ate, whom you were with and your mood. Then analyze the record and if needed go for expert opinion to change the bad habits. |
| Get moving: Make time to exercise for at least 3 times a week for 1hr. each day. |
| Lose weight: Maintain healthy balanced diet to lose weight. Take advice of your Dietician. |
| Participate: Convince your child to participate in school sports and activities. |
| Check your and your child’s weight once in a month. |
| Avoid crash diet: Quick weight loss is due to loss of water and muscle, not fat. |
| Drink 8 glasses of water daily and be healthy. |
| Eat right: Avoid sweets, excess salt, chocolate, artificial sweeteners. Rather eat fresh fruits, salads, nuts etc. Cause vitamin, mineral, antioxidants’ and fiber are the important things for heart health. |
| Dieter’s delight: Don’t give up all your favorite foods. Simply eat less than you usually do. Teach your child too. |
| Taste and enjoy food: Chew your food slowly and enjoy every bite. It will help to provide earlier satiety. |