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MAIN
Health
Vitamins
& Minerals
Folic
Acid
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Folic Acid
Fast Facts
Foods:
nuts, leafy green vegetables,
fortified cereals, beans, liver,
poultry, oranges
What
it's good for:
cell growth & division, creation
of amino acids, birth defect risk
reduction, heart disease, memory
& cognitive enhancement in
older adults.
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Folic
acid, which is also known as vitamin M and Folacin, is a form
of vitamin B9 which has several key roles in the bodies processes,
including the formation of genetic information and the formation
of red blood cells.
Folic
acid also has a number of health benefits, and is of particular
importance in a nutrition
regimen for pregnant women.
Folic acid should be one of the first supplements that pregnant
women consider taking because it plays a significant role
in reducing the chances of birth defects.
Canada,
one of the few countries to require the producers of pastas,
cereals, and breads to add folic acid to their products did
a ten year study on what effect this requirement had on birth
defects. It was found that birth defects, particularly neural
birth defects, were reduced by half because of folic acid.
There is
also evidence to suggest that folic acid improves cognitive
abilities and may even help prevent Alzheimer's
disease.. One
study showed that adults between the ages of 50 and 70 who
were given daily folic acid supplements for three years showed
a marked improvement in both information processing speed
and memory. Furthermore, the test subjects who had been taking
folic acid for the three years showed a much less drastic
decline in their mental abilities when they were compared
to the control groups who were given no folic acid supplements.
Studies have also found that folic acid can protect against
both heart
disease and stroke.
Like
other B
vitamins, folic acid has been shown to reduce the amount
of homocysteine,
which is a naturally occurring amino acid, in the bloodstream.
It is well established that homocysteine is a cause of a variety
of heart related problems, and reduced rates of it correspond
to a reduced chance of developing many heart problems, such
as heart disease and stroke.
For those
looking to supplement their folic acid intake, it can be found
in a variety of foods, including liver, leafy vegetables,
and depending on the country, many common foods may be fortified
with folic acid.
Learn
more about naturally occurring folate and synthetic folic
acid, with info on where it's found, how much you should be
taking, and recent research and other facts about this member
of the B vitamin family...
More
information about folic acid around the Web:
Folic
Acid: Frequently Asked Questions About Folic Acid
- Excellently-presented information with facts and statistics
on birth and neural tube defects, a detailed explanation of
the differences between folic acid and folate, a list of foods
high in folate with serving sizes and daily values, and a
comprehensive array of related links from the March of Dimes.
The
Civitan Center Folid Acid info site
- Good, interactive presentation on the benefits of folic
acid in preventing birth defects with information on recommended
amounts and natural food sources, a quiz to test your knowledge,
related links.
CDC
Folic Acid -
WIth facts on fetal development, recommended sources, an order
form to write for free materials, FAQ, educational resources,
online newsletter.
Folic
Acid - A brief description, its importance to women
and pregnancy, recent research, recommended dosages and related
links from the National Women's Health Information Center.
Folate
(Folicin, Folic Acid)
- Factsheet from the Ohio State University Extension with
a good overview of its benefits, lists and charts of good
food sources, related references.
Folic
Acid - An archive of research study and trial data
describing folic acid's effects on cancer and a variety of
other diseases and conditions.
also
see in Health -> Pregnancy
| Pregnancy
Trimester Stages
Ultrasound
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