What is folic acid?
Folic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin, is an important nutrient that has great benefits for human health. Folic acid helps the body make new cells, especially red blood cells. At the same time, it can also improve immunity, prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, etc. When a woman is pregnant, the importance of folic acid becomes even more apparent.
Need to supplement folic acid during pregnancy
Pregnant women need to supplement 400-800 micrograms of folic acid every day to reduce the risk of birth defects, such as spina bifida, cleft lip and palate, etc. Pregnant women should start taking folic acid before pregnancy because the first 3 months of pregnancy are the most important period. Many pregnant women often begin to realize the importance of folic acid only after they become pregnant, but it is already too late. Therefore, pregnancy is a critical period when prevention of birth defects should begin before pregnancy.
You need to supplement folic acid during lactation
When a mother breastfeeds, her baby needs rich nutrients, including folic acid. Breastfeeding women should consume 500 micrograms of folic acid daily. Since the folic acid content in breast milk is limited during breastfeeding, you need to eat more folic acid-rich foods or take folic acid supplements. Only if the mother\’s diet is nutritious enough can the baby get all the elements needed for healthy growth.
Folic acid is abundant in food
The body cannot make folic acid and must get it from the diet. Many foods are rich in folic acid, such as dark green vegetables (spinach, lettuce, etc.), peas, liver, chicken, nuts, whole-wheat bread, etc. Various folate-rich foods can be easily consumed by people including pregnant and lactating women.
Summary
Folic acid is an important component of human health, especially during pregnancy and lactation, and has a particularly critical impact on infant health. You should take folic acid supplements before and after pregnancy to prevent birth defects. During the lactation period, mothers also need to consume enough folic acid to ensure the richness of breast milk. In addition, eating foods rich in folic acid also has great benefits for human health.
