Folate for Use in Pregnancy and Beyond

Folate is by far the nutrient that you hear the most about when it comes to pregnancy. This is always an important vitamin but it is never more important than when a baby is developing. Though we hear about folic acid particularly within pregnancy, it is always an important nutrient to be taking. This has some far reaching powers and is therefore something you want to include in your diet each and every day.

So Many Unknown Uses

Folate can be quite helpful when it comes to red blood cell production. It ensures that this function works properly and that levels stay at a sufficient amount. Folate is therefore quite important in the prevention of anemia. Folic acid can also help to support cell production, particularly within your skin.

It allows the nerves to function properly and is a huge contributor to preventing homocysteine build up in your blood. Folate is a well known nutrient in the prevention of osteoporosis and bone related fractures and injuries associated with this condition. It can also be quite helpful in prevention dementia that is often associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Folic acid therefore has many different uses beyond just in pregnancy. What we hear so much about is the fact that consuming proper levels of folic acid during pregnancy can help to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. It can ensure that the baby develops properly and that there are no neural tube issues.

Pregnancy and Beyond

Though pregnancy is what most people point to in terms of a potential folate deficiency, it is important for all women of child bearing years who could become pregnant. It is not a common deficiency fortunately but can occur in some instances and cause short term memory loss as well as extreme muscle fatigue.

Folate is fortunately naturally occurring in a lot of foods. You can turn to foods such as romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, mustard greens, turnip greens, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, beets, cauliflower, and lentils. Eating these foods can help but if you are pregnant or may become pregnant you want to be sure that you take a proper folic acid supplement or vitamin that includes proper levels of this compoun

Gives Us What We Need

There was a lot of research into how animals grew based off of just food substances. This all helped to derive the word, meaning, and helpful explanation of vitamins. Without proper nutrients the animals in a lab wouldn’t grow and so you saw that “vitamins” were necessary. This was how the word became so popular and why the meaning of them in our lives became so widely accepted. If we wanted to life a long and healthy life then we needed to make up for what the body wasn’t getting enough of. Diet isn’t alone and the early studies helped to define this and put the word “vitamin” on the map.[/fusion_text]