Tomah Chamber & Visitors Center Newsletter July Newsletter_LR | Page 4

The Wellness Bite:
Summer Health Tips
Take advantage of everything summer has to offer! Here are some tips to let you get the most of these warm and sunny
months.
1. Give Your Diet a Berry Boost
If you do one thing this summer to improve your diet, have a cup of mixed fresh berries -- blackberries, blueberries, or
strawberries -- every day. They’ll help you load up on antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce
the risks of age-related illnesses. Blueberries and blackberries are especially antioxidant-rich.
A big bonus: Berries are also tops in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol low and may even help prevent some cancers.
2. Get Dirty -- and Stress Less
To improve your stress level, plant a small garden, cultivate a flower box, or if space is really limited, plant a few flower
pots -- indoors or out.
Just putting your hands in soil is “grounding.” And when life feels like you’re moving so fast your feet are barely touching
the stuff, being mentally grounded can help relieve physical and mental stress.
3. Get Outside to Exercise
Pick one outdoor activity -- going on a hike, taking a nature walk, playing games such as tag with your kids, cycling, roller
blading, or swimming -- to shed that cooped-up feeling of gym workouts.
And remember, the family that plays together not only gets fit together -- it’s also a great way to create bonding time.
4. Be Good to Your Eyes
To protect your vision at work and at play, wear protective eyewear. When outdoors, wear sunglasses that block at least
99% of ultraviolet A and B rays. Sunglasses can help prevent cataracts, as well as wrinkles around the eyes.
And when playing sports or doing tasks such as mowing the lawn, wear protective eyewear. Ask your eye doctor about the
best type; some are sport-specific.
5. Vacation Time!
Improve your heart health: take advantage of summer’s slower schedule by using your vacation time to unwind.
Vacations have multiple benefits: They can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones such as corti-
sol, which contributes to a widening waist and an increased risk of heart disease.
6. Alcohol: Go Lite
Summer’s a great time to skip drinks with hard alcohol and choose a light, chilled alcoholic beverage (unless you are preg-
nant or should not drink for health or other reasons).
A cold beer, or a wine spritzer are all refreshing but light. In moderation -- defined as one to two drinks daily -- alcohol can
protect against heart disease.
(resource: webmd.com)