(NC)While most women have heard about folic acid, less than half know it's of benefit to women of childbearing age, according to the Folic Acid Alliance of Ontario. In addition, many women don't know whether they need to take folic acid, and if they do, how much they need or what are its sources.
(NC)While most women have heard about folic acid, less than half know it's of benefit to women of childbearing age, according to the Folic Acid Alliance of Ontario. In addition, many women don't know whether they need to take folic acid, and if they do, how much they need or what are its sources.
Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, is a B vitamin that contributes to the healthy development of babies. In Canada, it is estimated that four out of every 1,000 children born have a neural tube defect. These are birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord. They occur shortly after conception, often before a woman knows she's pregnant. The most common defect is spina bifida, which results in the spine not forming completely early in the pregnancy.
Studies show that women who eat a diet rich in folate or foods fortified with folic acid and who take a multivitamin containing at least 0.4 mg of folic acid before pregnancy can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by up to 70 per cent.
5 Little Known Facts About Lactic AcidEverybody knows that lactic acid accumulates when we exercise at a high intensity, but there is much more to lactate than that. It plays an integral role in many of the body s metabolic processes.
1. Lactic Acid is Always Present
It s always being produced. At rest your lactic acid levels will be about 1 millimoles/liter (mmol/L). As exercise intensity increases so does the production of lactic acid. It s not until you pass your anaerobic threshold that it reduces your efficiency. For most people this is approximately 4 mmol/L, or 70-80% of their VO2max.
2. Not Just Oxygen Deficiency
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It's recommended that women take folic acid at least three months before they get pregnant and throughout the first trimester of their pregnancy. Since not all pregnancies are planned, all women of childbearing age who are sexually active should try to eat foods rich in folic acid, like dark green leafy vegetables, bananas, nuts, and asparagus, as well as foods fortified with folic acid, such as certain breads, rice, and pasta.
Since it is challenging to get folic acid through diet alone, women should also consider taking a daily multivitamin containing a minimum of 0.4 mg folic acid, like Centrum Forte®. For more information on vitamin and mineral supplementation, visit http://www.centrumvitamins.ca.
- News Canada
Appreciating The Importance Of Folic AcidFolic acid is actually just one of the many vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex. Also known as folacin and folate, this indispensable nutrient serves the body in more ways than one. While very much important for all age groups, pregnant women are the ones who actually benefit the most from folic acid as well as those who getting past the prime of their lives. However, despite all of its known benefits many people fail to meet the recommended daily intake levels of folic acid which can oftentimes result to various ill-effects on a persons health. Folic acid is highly important to a perso ..
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News CanadaNot Enough Women Getting Folic Acid
