(1) It must be taken from 3 months before pregnancy: According to research, women must go through a 4-week sensitive period after taking folic acid before enough folic acid can meet the development needs of the nervous system. The best preventive effect can be achieved by persisting in taking it during the sensitive period of the first 3 months of pregnancy.
(2) In areas with a low incidence of neural tube defects in my country, women should also take folic acid supplements:The incidence of neural tube defects in my country is higher in the north than in the south, and in rural areas than in cities. . Therefore, some people think that women in low-incidence areas do not need to take folic acid during pregnancy. This understanding may become a hidden danger for children born with neural tube defects. According to surveys, a considerable number of women of childbearing age in low-incidence areas still lack folic acid in their bodies. Therefore, women in low-incidence areas must not take it lightly before pregnancy, and must also supplement folic acid.
(3) Do not use folic acid to replace small-dose folic acid supplements: Each tablet of folic acid supplements contains 0.4 mg of folic acid and is the only preventive drug approved by the state (trade name for \”Slian\”). There is a \”folic acid tablet\” on the market for the treatment of anemia. Each tablet contains 5 mg of folic acid, which is equivalent to 12.5 times that of \”Slilian\” tablets. Pregnant women should avoid taking such large doses of folic acid tablets in the early stages of pregnancy, because long-term use of large doses of folic acid tablets will have adverse effects on pregnant women and fetuses. Therefore, pregnant women are reminded to follow the guidance of doctors and health care providers and avoid buying or taking medicines indiscriminately.
(4) Eat foods rich in folic acid from your diet: Eat more animal livers, kidneys, green vegetables (spinach, Chinese cabbage, amaranth, leeks), Fish, eggs, cereals, soy products, nuts and other foods rich in folic acid. In addition, citrus fruits also contain more folic acid and are less lost during consumption, making them the first choice for supplementing folic acid.
Foods rich in folic acid
Green vegetables: lettuce, spinach, Tomatoes, carrots, greens, asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage, lentils, pea pods, mushrooms, etc.
Fresh fruits: oranges, strawberries, cherries, bananas, lemons, peaches, plums, apricots, bayberries, crabapples, jujubes, hawthorns, pomegranates, grapes, kiwis, pears, walnuts, etc.
Animal food: animal livers and kidneys, poultry meat and eggs, such as pork liver and chicken, beef, mutton, etc.
Beans and nut foods: soybeans, soy products, walnuts, cashews, chestnuts, almonds, pine nuts, etc.
Cereals: barley, rice bran, wheat germ, brown rice, etc.
Since folic acid is unstable to heat and light, the loss rate of folic acid in food after cooking can reach 50% to 90%. Therefore, it is necessary to change the cooking methods that easily destroy folic acid, such as not cooking at too high a temperature or for too long a time.
(5) Don’t take too much folic acid: If you take too much, it can mask vitamin B12 deficiency. If vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated, it can also lead to irreversible nerve damage. , taking folic acid should be done under the guidance of a doctor.
This article is provided by Baidu Reading and is excerpted from \”Three Months Before Pregnancy – Pregnancy Preparation Period\” Author: Wang Liru