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Here are some food that contain folic acid if you do not prefer pills. Pills can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

Folic acid is well known for preventing birth defects, but it's not solely for pregnant women. Folic acid may help prevent heart disease, depression, prevent Alzheimer's disease, type-2 diabetes, and even some forms of cancer.

Accodring to (Madison, 2012)

Heart Health: How does Folic Acid protect my heart? Folic acid pairs with Vitamin B12 as a coenzyme to help metabolism the amino acids methonine and homocysteine. Without folic acid, homocysteine levels can cause blood to clot more easily than normal and cause cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. Studies have shown folic acid may lower homocysteine levels (Madison, 2012).

Natural Depression Remedy: Folic acid supplements have been used to help treat depression and enhance antidepressant drugs. Studies have shown that people who are deficient in folic acid have less response to antidepressant medication. Folic acid is also believed to play a part in mood regulation.

Alzheimer’s Disease: A recent study of 579 men and women ages 60 and up has shown that folic acid may help ward off Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that participants who regularly consumed the recommended daily allowance of folic acid (400 mcg) through both food and supplements cut their risk of developing Alzheimer’s in half. Folic Acid also may play a key role in preventing overall memory loss associated with old age.

Diabetes Prevention: Folic Acid may help with the breakdown of triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood that are used for energy. Type-2 diabetes is linked to high levels of triglycerides in the blood. A study by the European Journal of Endocrinology also found when looking at four different groups of women from different geographical locations, those with a BMI of 30 and above also had low levels of folic acid.

Cancer Benefits: According to The American Cancer Society, low levels of folic acid in the blood have been linked with higher rates of colorectal cancer and some other types of cancer (Madison, 2012). A large study from 1980 to 1994 found that the women who took more than 400 mcg of folic acid per day were less likely to get colon cancer than those with those who took less than 200 mcg.

Folic acid is necessary to make and repair DNA when creating new cells. Scientists believe that low levels of folic acid may lead to changes in chemicals that affect DNA (Madison, 2012). This may alter how well cells can repair themselves or divide properly, which may lead to cancer.

Reference:

1. Madison. (2012). Five surprising benefits of folic acid. Healthy to Go. Retrience March 2, 2016 from http://togobrands.com/benefits-of-folic-acid/

2. The American Cancer Society. (May 7, 2011). Folic Acid.  Retrieved November 30, 2012 fromhttp://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/folic-acid

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A woman will thank herself for taking folic acid for the sake of her baby. A baby is the most precious being and as women, they should do whatever is in the best interest for their child. Folic acid is very important for the baby and is very easily accessible. Information on folic acid is useful to not only the woman but for men as well. As a father, although they are not carrying the child, they should know what is good for their child as well. Folic acid is one of those important items to put into the grocery

cart. 

"What is Folic Acid", you're wondering..?

Folic Acid is a vitamin B. Our bodies use it to make new cells and everyone needs it! It's so important because it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby's  brain and spine (autocephaly and spina bifida) (CDC). For folic acid to help prevent some major birth defects, a woman needs to start taking it at least one month before she becomes pregnant (CDC).

 Every woman needs folic acid every day, whether planning to get pregnant or not, for the healthy new cells the body makes daily. According to the Centers  for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Folic acid, women really should be taking about 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.

Women can get folic acid by taking a vitamin that has folic acid in it. It has to be taken every day. Several of the multivitamins sold in our country have the amount of folic acid women need. They could also choose to take a folic acid supplement each day with the 400 mcg that I mentioned. Also in the CDC, they mention another simple way women can get their folic acid is by eating a bowl of cereal that has 100% of the daily value of folic acid each day. Not all cereal has this amount so it it vital that women check the side of the box and look for the "100%" next to folic acid (CDC). 

Reference:
Centers for Control and Disease. (2016). Facts about folic acid. Retreieved February 20, 2016 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html

INTRO

Hello my beautiful classmates and professor!

I'm DeChira Mitchell, a senior, and Health Studies major with concentration in Community Health. I chose folic acid because my women's health professor informed me about the importance of folic acid for women who plan to give birth and I wanted to get to know more about it and why it is so important for women like me to get started on folic acid supplements. I hope that while informing myself of folic acid, you guys learn a little something as well.

Have a great one!