Importance of FOLIC ACID
Why does your body need Folic Acid?
>>Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant need folic acid (vitamin B9 or folate) for a number of compelling reasons:
* It helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) – serious birth defects of the spinal cord (such as spina bifida) and the brain (anencephaly).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that women who take the recommended daily dose of folic acid starting at least one month before they conceive and during the first trimester of pregnancy reduce their baby's risk of neural tube defects by 50 to 70 percent.
* Some research suggests that folic acid may help lower your baby's risk of other defects as well, such as cleft lip, cleft palate, and certain types of heart defects.
* Your body needs folate to make normal red blood cells and prevent anemia.
* Some research suggests that taking a multivitamin with folic acid may reduce your risk of preeclampsia, a complex disorder that can affect your health and your baby's.
Foods that Provide Folate:
- Folic acid is added to enriched breakfast cereals, bread, pasta and rice.
- Lentils, dry beans and peas.
- Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, collard greens, okra and asparagus.
- Citrus fruit and juice.
Besides these food sources, Prenatal medication provides the required amount of Folic Acid.
>>Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant need folic acid (vitamin B9 or folate) for a number of compelling reasons:
* It helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) – serious birth defects of the spinal cord (such as spina bifida) and the brain (anencephaly).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that women who take the recommended daily dose of folic acid starting at least one month before they conceive and during the first trimester of pregnancy reduce their baby's risk of neural tube defects by 50 to 70 percent.
* Some research suggests that folic acid may help lower your baby's risk of other defects as well, such as cleft lip, cleft palate, and certain types of heart defects.
* Your body needs folate to make normal red blood cells and prevent anemia.
* Some research suggests that taking a multivitamin with folic acid may reduce your risk of preeclampsia, a complex disorder that can affect your health and your baby's.
Foods that Provide Folate:
- Folic acid is added to enriched breakfast cereals, bread, pasta and rice.
- Lentils, dry beans and peas.
- Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, collard greens, okra and asparagus.
- Citrus fruit and juice.
Besides these food sources, Prenatal medication provides the required amount of Folic Acid.
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