Reduce Birth Defects With Folic Acid
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009folate is one of many B vitamins recognized by health care professionals and natural therapists. It is found in foods such as liver; citrus fruits; dark green, leafy vegetables (spinach); whole grains; cereals with added B vitamins; beans; milk; kidney; and yeast. Folic acid may also be measured as the amount in the red blood cells, and is essential to every woman in child bearing years.
Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant need extra folic acid to make more red blood cells and maintain normal growth of their baby. The body needs folate to make red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, new genetic material such as DNA in cells, and for normal growth this is why its so important to mothers with unborn children.
Folate occurs naturally in food and folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin. Low folic acid levels during pregnancy may contribute to birth defects and pregnancy loss. Consuming a high dietary intake of folate or taking folic acid supplements orally during pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube birth complications or cleft palate in the baby.
Many alcohol abusers have poor quality diets that do not provide the recommended intake of folate among other vitamins and minerals not listed in this article. Alcohol interferes with the absorption of folate and increases excretion of folic acid by the kidney. Excess alcohol consumption can cause both liver and kidney damage so reduced consumption is important to maintain health.
In conclusion, folate, along with vitamin B-12, is required for the synthesis of DNA, the principal genetic material in the body. Folate is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins in vitamin B complex formulations. Women who do not get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy are more likely to have a child born with a birth defect, such as a cleft lip or cleft palate or a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. folic acid B vitamins can be found at your local or internet vitamin store at discount prices.
*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Folate is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.