How to Lower Children's High Triglyceride Levels

According to KidsHealth, many children are at risk for high triglycerides because of poor eating habits. Your child may not experience any adverse affects of an unhealthy triglyceride level now, but eating foods that raise cholesterol levels could impact his health as he gets older. If your child has been diagnosed with a high triglyceride count, there are several ways you can help lower it in order to instill lifelong, healthy eating habits that will keep triglycerides low as your child grows.

Serve healthy foods from each of the five food groups. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables in the house, recommends Healthy Children, and make them a part of your child's daily diet. Offer your child whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products to help keep his saturated fat and cholesterol intake low.

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Do not allow your child to eat foods that have high amounts of fat and cholesterol. Offer your child frozen yogurt, frozen fruit bars or angel food cake as occasional treats rather than donuts, cookies and cakes. Encourage your child to pass on butter, margarine, sour cream and gravy as well. Limit your child's consumption of pre-packaged foods because they are often high in fat and cholesterol.

Read food labels carefully. Check the products you buy to learn how much fat and cholesterol they contain, recommends KidsHealth. Keep track of how much your child eats so that her total cholesterol intake is 300mg less per day.

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Limit how many sugary drinks and sugary foods your child consumes each day. Keep treats that contain sugar to a minimum by only allowing one serving every few days rather than every day.

Provide time for your child to exercise. Encourage your child to get active to improve the health of his entire body so his triglyceride level will begin to drop, suggests KidsHealth. Give your child plenty of options, such as rope jumping, swimming or organized sports, to ensure he reaches at least 60 minutes of activity each day.

Tips

Use nonstick cooking spray when you are preparing your child's foods, recommends Healthy Children, in order to reduce how much fat she consumes. Model healthy eating and exercise habits so your child can learn how to live a healthy lifestyle by watching you. Participate by cooking together and exercising together. Keep pre-cut fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator so your child always has a healthy snack when she is hungry.

Warnings

Speak with your child's doctor if he has been diagnosed with high triglycerides to make sure that dietary and exercise changes are appropriate for him.