What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a B complex vitamin, also called vitamin B9 or folate. It is one of the essential nutrients for the human body and is mostly found in fresh vegetables, beans, liver and other foods. The physiological role of folic acid in the human body is very complex. It not only plays an important role in the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy, but can also help prevent a variety of chronic diseases and maintain the normal functioning of the body.
The role and function of folic acid
The main functions of folic acid in the human body include the following aspects:
1. Help normal fetal development
Folic acid is very important for pregnant women. In early pregnancy, folic acid can help normal development of the neural tube and prevent fetal malformations. Lack of folic acid during pregnancy can easily lead to problems such as open neural tube defects, cleft lip, and cleft palate in the fetus. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women start supplementing with folic acid 3 months before pregnancy, with a daily intake of 400 to 800 micrograms.
2. Protect cardiovascular system health
Folic acid can reduce blood levels of homocysteine, a harmful amino acid that contributes to many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Folic acid can also lower triglyceride levels in the blood, reduce platelet aggregation, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
3. Help maintain normal function of the immune system
Folic acid is an important coenzyme that participates in the synthesis of nucleotides and cell growth and differentiation in the body. These processes not only play an important role in the normal division, proliferation and regeneration of cells, but are also very important in maintaining the normal function of the immune system.
4. Help reduce depression
Some studies show that folic acid can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Folic acid can inhibit the synthesis of homocysteine, regulate tryptophan levels in the blood, and then increase the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, thereby alleviating depression.
How to get enough folic acid?
Since folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and does not easily accumulate in the body, it is recommended that people obtain sufficient folic acid through diet.
Foods rich in folic acid mainly include: green leafy vegetables (such as spinach, asparagus, rapeseed, Chinese cabbage, etc.), beans (such as soybeans, peas, black beans, etc.), animal liver and eggs. In addition, some adults or women can also use folic acid supplements, but they must be used under the guidance of a doctor and do not abuse them on your own.
Summary
Folic acid is a very important nutrient. It has a wide range of physiological effects in the human body. It is not only beneficial to the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy, but can also prevent a variety of chronic diseases and help maintain the normal functioning of the body. In order to ensure adequate folic acid intake, people should eat more folic acid-rich foods and have a diversified diet. If you need to supplement folic acid, it is recommended to use it under the guidance of a doctor. In short, the importance of folic acid in the human body cannot be underestimated. It is necessary for us to understand the role of folic acid and maintain good eating habits.
