This weeks newsletter is still on Folate, but with a physical activity spin! Last week, we discussed how and why it is important to get folate into your everyday diet and how it also helps you on your journey for more happiness. Who doesn’t need that!
Folate and Physical Activity
Not only are we exploring all things folate this month as part of our 12 happiness elements, but we also wanted to take some time this week and focus on our physical activity. We know that getting 20 to 25 minutes of some physical activity each day will increase happiness and release those feel-good hormones such as releasing endorphins. But how does folate affect the body, and why do we need folate to live a happier lifestyle?
When your body doesn’t absorb enough folate (also folic acid and Vitamin B9) and you become deficient, you could possibly become anemic (megaloblastic anemia). Becoming anemic could cause you to have weakness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, headache, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath (1).
Also side note! I have suffered with terrible canker sores for years! When I found out that I needed to absorb more folate in my diet, they mostly went away. Occasionally, I may get one randomly in times of high stress but they are few and far between and that is a wonderful thing!
I bring this up because too little folate can also cause open sores on the tongue and inside the mouth! Too little folate can also cause changes in color of the skin, hair, or fingernails.
As you can see a low folate level can impede your success towards living a happy and healthy lifestyle, so make sure you take enough vitamin B9!
Check out our most recent folate related recipe:
Join Our Community: Find out more about our Challenge and participate by joining our private Facebook group, SPHappinessreset.
THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE: Make sure you get 20 minutes of exercise each day this week!
I challenge you to try yoga. Ben and I use this video occasionally. I know it’s only 15 minutes but let’s try a 5-minute stretch before hand or a quick walk for 5 minutes after. We are trying to memorize this routine so that we can do this routine when we go on vacation or want to workout outside be the lake.
If this is your first time, it is important to know that you can make it as easy or difficult as you like. With it being your first time, don’t have the expectation that you will do every move perfectly the first time. One of the reasons why I enjoy yoga so much is that it is very much a journey mentally and physically. I can look back at how far I’ve come when I get a deeper stretch or can breathe with ease while holding a position. There are also days when I just don’t feel like doing it, but on those days even when I go through the motions, I still feel proud of myself for trying and feel like I accomplished something to start my day on a great note.
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