Facts about folic acid

By Published On: December 1st, 2011

pillbottleWhat folic acid lacks in an appetizing name it more than makes up for in fabulous health benefits.
Serving to develop and maintain healthy cells, including red blood cells, folic acid is an essential part of everyone’s diet. And because this B vitamin helps prevent major birth defects, it’s even more necessary for expecting moms.
The CDC urges women to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. They also suggest two easy ways to ensure that you get enough folic acid each day:
1. Take a vitamin that has folic acid in it every day. Most multivitamins sold in the United States have the amount of folic acid women need each day. Women can also choose to take a small pill (supplement) that has only folic acid in it each day.
2. Eat a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100 percent of the daily value of folic acid every day.
With super health benefits and simple ways to get your recommended daily intake, folic acid is beginning to sound rather appealing, right?