1. Folic Acid Awareness Week is January 2 nd – 8 th But every week is Folic Acid Awareness Week! Folic Acid Awareness Week Health Goal for January: Start the New Year off right – take a multivitamin with 400 mcg of Folic Acid everyday LINKS National Council on Folic Acid Centers for Disease Control and Prevention March of Dimes Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

2. Health Goal For February: Do something good for your heart – begin an exercise program. Exercise for 30 to 60 minutes 5 times per week. LINKS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention US Dept of Health and Human Services Life 123 Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

3. Health Goal for March: It takes more than a little luck to be healthy – eat right and take a multivitamin. Include 5 servings of fruits and vegetables as well as breads and cereals fortified with folic acid. Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday LINKS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fruit and Veggies Matter (CDC) American Dietetic Association US Dept of Agriculture

4. Health Goal for April: April showers bring May flowers. Are you drinking enough water? Drink 8 – 8 ounce glasses of water each day. If you live or work in a hot climate, you may need to drink more water. Water can replace beverages that add hidden calories. LINKS The Mayo Clinic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rethink Your Drink (CDC) Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

5. Health Goal for May: Happy Mother’s Day! Whether it’s a mother, daughter, niece, grand daughter, or friend, everyone knows someone who is or may be a mom someday. Make sure all the women in your life are taking a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid everyday to prevent birth defects. LINKS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke International Birth Defects Information Systems Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

6. Health Goal for June: Get ready for summer. Put on sunscreen 15 or 20 minutes before going outside. Be sure to reapply every few hours. Sunlight helps your body make and store vitamin D, but too much sun is not healthy for your skin. LINKS American Academy of Dermatology Skin Cancer Foundation Consumer Reports American Dietetic Association Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

7. Health Goal for July: Declare your independence from television, computer and electronic games. Take breaks. Go outside. Breathe deeply and relax. All these things can reduce you stress level. Don’t forget to play, laugh, and have fun! LINKS Stress Management (Helpguide.org) Stress Relievers (About.com) Meditation (MayoClinic.com) Relaxation Techniques (MayoClinic.com) Capital District Community Gardens Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

8. Health Goal for August: Stop smoking and drinking if you are planning a pregnancy. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. Even if you are not planning a pregnancy, quitting smoking can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. LINKS Smokefree.gov American Lung Association Pregnant? Don't Smoke! (CDC) Alcohol and Pregnancy (CDC) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) - CDC Alcohol (FAQs) Alcohol Use and Health Fact Sheets (CDC) Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

9. Health Goal for September: Fall starts this month. When you fall into bed are you getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night? Sleep is important for both mental and physical health. LINKS National Sleep Foundation How Sleep Works (National Sleep Foundation) Sleep Disorders Center (University of Maryland Medical Center) Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

10. Health Goal for October: October is Spina Bifida Prevention Month. Help spread the message to take a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid every day to prevent spina bifida and other birth defects. LINKS Spina Bifida Association Spina Bifida (CDC) Living with Spina Bifida (CDC) Spina Bifida (MOD) Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

11. Health Goal for November: November is Family History Month. When you get together with family at Thanksgiving, take the time to check on health problems that run in your family. High blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are chronic diseases that run in families. LINKS Family Health History (CDC) Family History Collection Tools Family Health History Quiz - Diabetes (NDEP) American Heart Association American Diabetes Association Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday

12. Health Goal for December: How did you do this year meeting your goals? Review your progress and decide what you need to work on to improve your health in 2012. LINKS Healthy Living (CDC) BMI Calculator (CDC) High Blood Cholesterol - National Institutes of Health Heart Risk Calculator (NIH) Preconception Health (CDC) Healthy Eating (Food Network) Take a multivitamin with folic acid everyday