Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/294426
S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G 3 Looking for a place to explore diverse natural habitat of the Chippewa Valley with your family? Try Beaver Creek Reserve. For more information, visit beavercreekreserve.org. Are you at risk for a chronic disease? Find out in seven minutes by visiting sacredhearteauclaire.org/Screening-Aware. A Child in the Wild NURTURING YOUR CHILD'S RELATIONSHIP with nature starts by getting outdoors as a family and embarking on safe wilderness adventures. "Being surrounded by nature stimulates a child's senses and promotes cognitive development," says Erik Keisler, Executive Director of the Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve. "Nature provides parents and children both with an endless supply of epiphany moments where they can slow down and look at the full circle of life by witnessing interactions between the earth and all its inhabitants." GOOD FOR THE SOUL "Family camping trips and day hikes are always an exciting way for parents to spend time with their children," Keisler says. "But impromptu wilderness excursions to a neighborhood stream or patch of woods can be just as thrilling for kids. Take along a magnifying glass and observe nature in small parts. Teaching your child to identify certain trees, birds, plants, and IN NOVEMBER 2013, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published 12 articles highlighting the most recent research on tea. Findings show that polyphenols, a naturally occurring substance in tea, may be the source of the drink's incredible health benets. Polyphenols increase energy use and fat oxidation, helping tea drinkers burn up to 100 extra calories per day. at could explain why tea drinkers tend to have lower body mass indexes and smaller waist sizes. Losing excess weight helps reduce the risk for several chronic health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. HEALTHY STEEPS Other health benets of tea drinking include: ✳ improved bone strength ✳ enhanced alertness and mood ✳ reduced blood pressure "Tea also contains antioxidants that help destroy free radical cells," says Susan Kasik-Miller, Registered Dietitian at Sacred Heart Hospital. "Free radicals are thought to produce inammation that contributes to the development of heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and certain cancers." As Kasik-Miller notes, polyphenols and antioxidants are found in both caeinated and decaeinated black, green, and white teas, but not herbal teas. THIS SUMMER, CONVINCE YOUR KIDS TO SET GADGETS ASIDE AND TAKE IN THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND ITS UNIQUE TREASURES. insects can empower him or her with knowledge and sense of independence." STOP BUGGING ME Chippewa and Eau Claire counties have an extremely high deer tick population that carries Lyme disease. "When heading outdoors with your children during the months of May through August, apply tick repellent—no more than 10–30 percent DEET for kids—on exposed skin, hats, and clothing," says James Concannon, MD, FACEP, Medical Director of the Emergency Department and Urgent Care at Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's hospitals. "Check frequently for ticks and remove them promptly to avoid the transmission of Lyme disease." Tea: Nature's Cure-All? MORE THAN THREE MILLENNIA AGO, SOMEONE IN CHINA DRANK THE VERY FIRST CUP OF TEA—LIKELY FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES. NEW RESEARCH IS PROVING WHAT THAT ANCIENT TEA DRINKER ALREADY SUSPECTED.