The Healthy Parks, Healthy People wellness initiative between Cape Cod Healthcare and Cape Cod National Seashore continues Saturday, Aug. 5, at 9 a.m. at Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham.
The second installment of “Talk and Walk with a Doc,” featuresD Cape Cod Healthcare cardiologist Dr. Elissa Thompson and Brittany Grigorenko, a registered dietician for Cape Cod Healthcare,
The morning will kick off with a short talk from a Cape Cod National Seashore ranger, who will describe the natural habitat along the trail and highlight the nutrient-rich environment of salt marshes, followed by a 1.4-mile ranger-guided trail walk. Participants are then invited to listen to a casual talk, “Eat Smart for a Healthy Heart,” where Thompson will highlight the overall health benefits of good cardiovascular nutrition, while Grigorenko will discuss the recommended cardiac sodium restriction per day and offer practical tips to incorporate plant-based meals into one’s diet.
“Talk and Walk with a Doc” is an outdoor wellness series at the National Seashore offered as part of the Healthy Parks, Healthy People program, which is entering its ninth season as a partnership between Cape Cod Healthcare and the Cape Cod National Seashore. The program encourages outdoor exercise and exposure to nature through parks and public lands as a way to maintain good health, featuring the local resources of the trails, facilities, programs and staff of the National Park Service.
Each event features short presentations by Dr. Thompson, a ranger and other experts focused on parks as the cornerstones for human and environmental health, specifically relating the health benefits of time spent in nature. A third event planned for Sept. 30, 2023, will complete the series with a focus on mindfulness and the importance of sleep.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but encouraged. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6.
For more information and to register, visit www.capecodhealth.org/healthyparks
