HEALTH &HAPPINESS
THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLIC ACID IN WOMEN’S HEALTH COURTESY OF MCC
Folic acid is a B vitamin that is responsible for helping maintain normal growth and development in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and
conceive. Opt for multivitamins or prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid.
The March of Dimes said that women at high risk for Prevention said that folic acid is necessary for helping to NTDs should take 4,000 mcg of folic acid each day to produce new cells and can be essential in the development help prevent an NTD. Begin three months before trying of cells that are made each day, such to get pregnant as the skin, hair and nails. It also and continue helps the body make red blood cells through the Where folic acid shines the that carry oxygen from the lungs to first 12 weeks brightest is in the prevention of all parts of the body, according to the of pregnancy. key birth defects of the brain March of Dimes. Women who and spine known as neural tube are at high risk defects, or NTDs. Where folic acid shines the brightest include those is in the prevention of key birth with a previous defects of the brain and spine known as neural tube pregnancy with an NTD. Prospective parents who had an defects, or NTDs. NTDs develop during the first NTD also are at an elevated risk. month of pregnancy when the embryo is under rapid development — a period when many women may not Folate also can be found in many fortified foods, such as even know they are pregnant. Some studies also show that breads, pastas, rices and breakfast cereals, and can even folic acid may help prevent heart defects in a baby and be found naturally in other foods. These include peanuts, cleft lip and palate disorders. citrus fruits, asparagus, leafy green vegetables and many beans. Foods also can be used to boost folic acid in Women of childbearing age are urged to take at least 400 the body. mcg of folic acid each day, according to the CDC. Doing so ensures the body has enough residual folate available WebMD said folic acid has also been linked to reduced to promote proper baby development should a woman risk of stroke, some types of cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, become pregnant. Many obstetricians recommend that heart disease, and preeclampsia. So it is important to take if a woman is planning to become pregnant, she should it een if you are a man or a woman who is not planning begin taking folic acid a month or two before trying to to become pregnant. ■
MARCH 2020
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