Folic Acid in Foods Pregnancy

Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin and is mainly found in leafy green vegetables and fruits. It is important for pregnant women because it helps to prevent certain birth defects of the baby's brain and spine. All women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folate (the natural form of folic acid) one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy. Good food sources of folate include spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, beans, lentils, oranges, strawberries, and fortified foods such as breads, cereals, and pastas.

Folic acid is important because it helps the baby's neural tube close properly. The neural tube is the structure that becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord. If the neural tube does not close properly, the baby can be born with a serious birth defect called a neural tube defect (NTD).

NTDs are serious birth defects that occur in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. About 3,000 pregnancies are affected by NTDs each year in the United States.

Folic acid can help prevent up to 70% of NTDs.

All women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folate (the natural form of folic acid) one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy.

Good food sources of folate include spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, beans, lentils, oranges, strawberries, and fortified foods such as breads, cereals, and pastas.

The recommended amount of folic acid for pregnant women is 600 mcg per day. This can be achieved by taking a daily supplement or by eating foods that are fortified with folic acid. Some multivitamins also contain folic acid. Check the label to see how much folic acid is in your multivitamin.

You should also avoid taking more than 1 mg (1,000 mcg) of folic acid per day unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider. Taking too much folic acid can mask other problems that may be present such as vitamin B12 deficiency.

Natural sources of folate include leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, as well as fruits such as oranges and strawberries.  hop over to this web-site  can also get folate from fortified foods such as breads, cereals, and pastas."