Folic Acid

During one of my health classes our teacher talked to the women about folic acid and recommended to all the women in her class that as long as we are sexually active that we should be taking folic acid. She explained how important it was for your baby and how it can protect your baby from brain and spine birth defects. Most women, myself included, wont know right away that we are pregnant, most of us find out during our second month of pregnancy, and within that period our baby has done without the folic acid it needs. Not only is folic acid key in your babys healthy development it is beneficial to you as well. Folic acid is good for heart health, keeps your blood healthy, and protects against anemia.

According to womenshealth.gov " Women able to get pregnant need 400 to 800 mcg or micrograms of folic acid every day, even if they are not planning to get pregnant. (This is the same as 0.4 to 0.8 mg or milligrams.) That way, if they do become pregnant, their babies will be less likely to have birth defects."

There are many foods that are rich in folic acid that I have listed below for women wanting to increase their consumption of folic acid, however if you are expecting a little one, taking a supplement insures you are meeting the .4 to .8 mgs. 

Foods that contain high amounts of folic acid

·         Spinach

·         Collard Greens

·         Turnip Greens

·         Romaine Lettuce

·         Asparagus

·         Broccoli

·         Lentils

·         Pinto Beans

·         Garbanzo beans

·         Avocado

·         Okra

·         Peanuts

·         Sunflower seeds

·         Papaya

·         Oranges