DECEMBER 2022

contribute to our physical fullness. Try to bring awareness to what you’re drinking throughout the day and aim to drink least half of your body weight in ounces per day! Diversify Your Gut Health Gut health is always a trendy topic, and we love to boast how our wonderful, antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes can help contribute to a healthy gut! Fiber is a great source of prebiotics for our gut flora, meaning it helps feed the probiotics, the live microbes in our digestive system. Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies can help with this. For inspiration, check out these 10 easy ways to eat more fruits and veggies. (https://ncsweetpo tatoes.com/blog/10-easy-ways-to eat-more-fruits-vegetables-this summer/) Trade Stress for Laughter Easier said than done, but the simple act of laughing is a stress reliever in itself! We all know that stress can play a toll on health, and that can be from physical, mental, emotional stress, or a combination of them. While it’s unlikely that we

can completely mitigate our stress, a key is learning how to cope with it in a more positive way so it doesn’t take as big of a toll on our health. Find some things that contribute to happiness and try to engage in them more - whether it’s exercise, spending time with loved ones, rest days, funny movies, or anything else, laughing can decrease stress hormones! org/en/healthy-living/healthy-life style?uid=1979) research suggests that laughing can lower stress hormones, decrease inflammation in your arteries, and raise your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as “good cholesterol. Prioritize Those Z’s Adequate sleep is directly correlat ed with health status. We know that inadequate sleep is linked to an increased risk of chronic disease, (ht tps : //pubmed . ncb i . n lm. n i h . gov/24082301/)such as coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Aim for at least 7 hours/night, if possible. You can improve your sleep quality by having a small According to the American Heart Association, (https://www.heart.

protein-rich snack before bed, reducing screen time in the two hours before bed, maintaining a cooler bedroom temperature (the ideal temperature for sleep is some where between 65-69 degrees), and doing something calming before bed. Reading, journaling, light yoga or stretching or meditation can all help clear the mind before bed, improving your sleep quality. While we look forward to a wonderful and prosperous 2023 (with abundant sweetpotato pro duction!), please make sure to take care of yourself and spend time with your friends and family. Self-care is important. Make time for you so you can feel your best to produce your best results out in the fields!

9