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What Is Folic Acid Good For
1. Introduction: What is folic acid and what does it do?

Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin and is part of the B-vitamin family. It is also known as folate or vitamin B9. Folic acid occurs naturally in many foods, especially leafy green vegetables and legumes. It is important for the body to have enough folic acid because it helps the body to make new cells, including red blood cells. Folic acid is important for pregnant women because it helps to prevent certain birth defects of the baby's brain and spine.

2. History of folic acid and its discovery

Folic acid was first isolated in 1941 by American biochemist Roger J. Williams. He discovered that it was an important factor in the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). NTDs are birth defects of the brain and spine. Williams named the new vitamin ""folic"" after the Latin word ""folium"" which means ""leaf"". In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required that all enriched grain products contain folic acid. This was done to help reduce the number of NTDs in babies.

3. gofolic of folic acid in the body

Folic acid plays an important role in the body. It helps the body to make new cells, including red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. Folic acid is also needed for proper cell division. This is important during periods of rapid cell growth, such as during pregnancy or childhood growth spurts. Folic acid is important for pregnant women because it helps to prevent certain birth defects of the baby's brain and spine.

4. Folic acid and pregnancy

Folic acid is important for pregnant women because it helps to prevent certain birth defects of the baby's brain and spine. The neural tube develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord, so it is important that it develops properly. A pregnant woman needs 400 micrograms (mcg) of folate/folic acid a day from diet and supplements combined. Women who are planning to become pregnant should take 400 mcg of folate/folic acid a day from diet or supplements, or a combination of both, to help prevent NTDs.

5. Folic acid and birth defects

Folic acid helps to prevent certain birth defects of the baby's brain and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs). NTDs occur when the neural tube does not close properly during pregnancy. Some common NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly . Spina bifida is a defect in which part of the spinal cord does not develop properly, resulting in paralysis below the affected area . Anencephaly is a defect in which part of the brain does not develop properly . These defects can be serious or even fatal . Women who are planning to become pregnant should take 400 mcg of folate/folic acid a day from diet or supplements, or a combination of both, to help prevent NTDs .

6. Folic acid and cancer

Some studies have shown that folic acid may help to reduce the risk of some types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer . However, more research is needed before we can say for sure if folic acid prevents cancer .

7. The benefits of folic acid

Folic acid has many benefits . It helps the body to make new cells , including red blood cells . Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body . F olic ac id i s also needed for proper cell division . This i s i mportant during periods o f rapid cell growth , such as during pregnancy or childhood growth spurts . F olic ac id i s important for pregnant women because it helps t o p revent c ertain b irth d efects o f t he b aby' s b rain a nd spine . I t also m ay h elp t o r educe t he r isk o f c ancer .

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