Folic Acid- the B vitamin you must know now
Dietary supplements are very important for maintaining proper health during this time when diet alone is often not enough to get the nutrients you need. Once it may have been possible to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals a body needs to function at its top level, but with minerals in the soil being depleted, once mineral-rich foods are starting to lack what they once used to deliver.
Many foods are naturally good sources of folic acid, like whole grains, beans and dark green vegetables, but storage and cooking diminishes the value of the nutrient. To counter this, you can take dietary supplements. Some of the most important vitamins you can take, especially for women’s health, are folic acid supplements.
Folic Acid critical for prenatal baby health
Folic acid is a B vitamin necessary for the body to produce red blood cells and maintain a standard metabolic rate. It is particularly important for women to take folic acid supplements when they are pregnant because it can help prevent birth defects and promotes a healthy fetus spinal cord. Folic acid provides benefits that go way beyond prenatal health, however.
In both men and women, folic acid supplements help keep your heart healthy and can treat such conditions as depression, arthrosclerosis, epilepsy and gingivitis, among many others. Folic acid both helps prevent you from getting these ailments and can act as a treatment if you are already suffering from any of them.
Folic acid helps your heart by lowering homocysteine levels.
High homocysteine levels leads to arteries becoming vulnerable to plaque buildup because of the impairment of blood vessels. Plaque buildup leads to higher risk of heart disease, so taking folic acid supplements to lower levels of harmful material in your body will help prevent heart disease. It is clear that everything in the body is connected and related when you learn that a high level of homocysteine is also linked to depression. Lowering those levels is effectively how folic acid fights depression.
Watch out for negative side effects
While folic acid supplements make great additions to any diet and exercise regimen, negative side effects can occur if you consume too much. The recommended dosage is around 400 mcg a day, although people in particular categories, such as pregnant women and the elderly, may need to consume more. The dangerous level does not begin until you reach levels around 5,000 mcg. Still, it is wise to consult with your doctor about the precise amount that is best for you and your needs.
What are your experiences with folic acid supplements?
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