When talking about vitamins, many will come into your mind, but a folic acid supplement is probably not in your top three. Folic acid is vitamin B9; if you don’t get enough from your diet, you could increase the likelihood of experiencing anaemia and decrease cognition.
Folate is the backbone of healthy red blood cells, prevents conditions like iron deficiency, and supports child development. Vitamin B9 is one of the most underrated vitamins out there. Dive in with us today and learn why you should take a folic acid supplement and its benefits below.
Folic Acid/Folate Explained
As mentioned above, folic acid is a B vitamin that plays an important role in helping your body make new healthy cells. We all need folic acid. It supports major functions such as the synthesis of DNA and RN and the metabolism of amino acids.
But where do you find folic acid?
Well, first of all you can get it from foods. Some of the main folic acid foods you might want to consider adding to your diet are:
- Kidney beans
- Asparagus
- Eggs
- Beetroots
- Brussel Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Bananas
- Avocado
- Fortified grains
While these folic acid foods can certainly help increase your levels, sometimes they’re not enough if you’re pregnant or live an on-the-go lifestyle. You might need a folic acid supplement—more on that later.
What are the benefits of Folic Acid?
Folic acid has many health benefits, such as the following:
Supports brain health
Your brain is one of your most important organs, and folic acid plays a role in preserving it. Low folate levels are linked to the poor mental condition and increase dementia risk. Having sufficient folate levels can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, decrease inflammation and support your focus.
Treating mental health conditions
Folic acid supplements are not a complete cure, but this vitamin can help alleviate certain symptoms linked to mental health conditions. Too little folate has been shown in people who have depression, and those with higher folate levels tend to show less symptoms of depression. There was also a review in 2022 of different studies showing that folic acid may help reduce symptoms of mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and postpartum depression.
Reduces risk of heart disease
Folate acid supplements may help improve heart health and lower the risk of heart disease. Folic acid may help reduce homocysteine, an amino acid that can increase cholesterol levels, damage the lining of blood vessels, and cause oxidative stress in the body.
Birth defects
Folic acid supplements can help reduce birth defects in children. In particular, they may help reduce neural tube irregularities such as anencephaly and spina bifida. Taking supplements can also help reduce the risk of fetal development issues.
Folic acid and pregnancy
Folic acid food and supplements are MUST during pregnancy. As we mentioned earlier, folic acid can significantly help reduce the risk of neural tube defects that occur early in pregnancy. Folic acid helps the development of the neural and spinal tube of the baby.
It also helps the production of DNA and RNA, ensuring tissues and organs form properly. Folic acid also helps the production of red blood cells, which help support both the health of the mother and baby. To reduce this risk, the NHS recommends that a folic acid supplement should be taken once a day till women are 12 weeks pregnant.
Try Focus Supplement’s Folic Acid
Save time looking online and try our Folic Acid supplement. It’s an easy-to-swallow 400mg tablet to be taken once a day, helping support your blood cells, brain, and fetal development. Free from allergens and vegan-friendly, try adding this Folic Acid supplement to your diet and see the change in your well-being.
Interested in knowing how to level up your health even further? Check out another important mineral boron- learn about everything you need to know here.
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