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Folic Acid Supplementation Before, During & After Pregnancy
Folic acid or folate might be considered the single most important nutrient a
mom-to-be can consume before, during and after her pregnancy.
Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects (ntds) such as spina bifida,
a critical and often life threatening complication of pregnancy. Regular
supplements with folic acid over a lifetime may also decrease your risk for
certain vascular ailments including cardiovascular disease.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that all women during their
reproductive years take a supplement that contains at minimum 400 micrograms of
folic acid per day.
Women at an increased risk for neural tube defects, including those with a
family history of the disease, should take up to 4 milligrams per day.
Folic acid supplementation has been linked with a reduced risk of many other
congenital anomalies during pregnancy, including decreased risk of palatal and
urinary defects and cardiovascular complications.
There are many foods that naturally contain folate, or folic acid. However in
general, the body is not capable of converting all of the folic acid women get
from their diets. Because of this it is best that a woman supplement even if her
diet is rich in folate containing foods.
More than 2,500 infants are born each year in the United States with neural tube
defects, and a majority of these are believed to be related to inadequate folate
intake in the diet.
Typically this defect occurs very early in pregnancy, during the first 18-30
days after conception, which is why it is essential that a woman have adequate folate stores in her body prior to becoming pregnant.
Because of this it is vital that a woman consume as many folate rich foods as
possible prior to pregnancy in addition to supplementing with a multi-vitamin.
These include the following:
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Fruits, particularly citrus
- Whole Grains
- Beans
- Breakfast cereals
- Nuts
- Meats
Good habits die hard. Therefore it is critical that you consume adequate
amounts of folate throughout your life to ensure your optimal health and well
being.
Remember that folate is not simply essential for the health and well being of
your newborn. Over a lifetime adequate intake can reduce your risk for vascular
disease. Folate helps decrease homocysteine serum concentrations, which may
reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Most prenatal vitamins have an adequate level of folic acid in them. You can
purchase these over the counter and start taking them prior to conception. You
can also get a prescription from your health care provider for prenatal vitamins
that contain the recommended levels of folic acid.
Remember that every step before, during and after your pregnancy can impact the
health and well being of your newborn.
To ensure the best possible outcome for you and baby, it is best that you take
every precaution necessary to ensure optimal health for your entire family!
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