Since this is American Heart Month, here's some information and simple tips about heart health and young people.

There's a saying among doctors and nutritionists, "You are only as old as your arteries!"

Sadly, this may mean that many overweight or obese children and teenagers have arteries that look like they belong in adults! When it comes to risk levels for heart disease and stroke, the condition of a person's arteries is more important than chronological age.

And here's a stunning statistic: The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6-11 has more than doubled in the past 20 years, and the rate among adolescents aged 12-19 has more than tripled!

Here's some very good news. There is strong evidence that the early stages of heart disease, and the ill-effect it has on health in young people, is a lot easier to reverse than it is in adults. The build-up of plaque in the walls of the arteries in overweight young people apparently is not as hardened or calcified as it is in adults.

So the earlier we can start giving our children good information about how to keep their arteries healthy the better.

A regular diet rich in the SuperFoods, with a little daily physical activity is the simplest and easiest way to begin.

We have some recommendations to help get and keep young people heart healthy.

• When your child gets their regular check-up, make sure the doctor checks their body mass index (BMI). Caution: This is not to be used to embarrass a child, but is just a way of finding out where your particular child fits in the larger population. BMI numbers are only very broad indicators to see if the young person is within the national BMI-for-age growth chart. If your child is way at the wrong end of the chart you might have his or her cholesterol levels checked.

• Help your children eat a SuperFoods-based diet! If SuperFoods are central to your daily diet it should be same for your children. You'd be surprised how many parents are very strict about their own diets, but somehow don't make the translation to their children.

• So, make sure every week that everyone in your family has a diet includes all the SuperFoods: nuts, beans, citrus, salmon or other cold water fish, spinach and tomatoes. Make sure all dairy products are low- or nonfat.

Generally, children between six and ten years old need about 1,800 to 2,400 calories a day. This should include two cups of low-fat or nonfat milk, two servings of meat or a protein alternative; six servings of whole grains, such as pastas, cereals and breads; and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables.

• Help your children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes each and every day.

Heart health is just as important for young people as it is for adults. You’re never too young to take care of your heart. You certainly don't want your child's arteries looking older than yours!