Vitamin B9 or folate is another name for folic acid. Folic acid is a vital vitamin that you should make sure to get enough of, since it is used for brain development, cell growth and tissue development. The cell division required to produce DNA is dependent on folic acid. Folic acid is found in many foods. These include dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach; citrus fruits, beans, tomato juice, melons, asparagus, mushrooms, poultry and shellfish.
To stay healthy and strong, you should ensure you eat a balanced diet that is full of fruits and veggies. Folic acid can have a positive impact on the health of women.
1. Pregnancy
Pregnant women should ensure that they consume enough folic acids in their diet. It can be obtained from food or prenatal vitamins. Women who have difficulty conceiving may benefit from increasing folic acids intake. Folic acid is also known to help reduce the risk of certain birth defects, and can enhance fetal development. The mother-to-be should begin taking folic acids during her pregnancy. It is important that you only take the recommended dose by your doctor.
A folic-acid supplement taken during pregnancy can help protect your baby against neural tube defects such as cleft lip and palate, low weight at birth, poor growth, miscarriage and premature birth. Women who are trying to get pregnant and those in the first three months should take 400 mcg a day. The fourth to ninth months should take 600 mcg.
