Aside from being able to safely give birth to their little ones, all pregnant moms want their newborn to be free from any birth defects. By doing this one simple thing, however, you can help prevent your little one from being born with birth defects.
The pregnancy ‘superhero’
During your pregnancy, it’s important to have a healthy diet and make sure that your body is strong and healthy since your health during your pregnancy directly affects your unborn baby’s health.
And one of the most important supplements that you’ll need is folic acid, or what’s also known as the pregnancy ‘superhero’.
Folic acid is a man-made B-vitamin of folate, a mineral which is normally found in dark, leafy vegetables as well as citrus fruits. Folic acid helps prevent birth defects in babies since it plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and helps your baby’s neural tubes develop properly into their brain and spinal cord. It can prevent spinal problems such as spina bifida, neural tube disorders, and lowers the risk of congenital heart defects in babies.
Aside from those benefits, folic acid and folate also helps with fertility in both men and women, helps lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, and according to certain studies, also helps with depression.
What foods are a good source of folic acid?
For pregnant women, the best source of folic acid would be through folic acid supplements, as folic acid specifically has been found to lower the rate of birth defects in babies. Fortified cereals and grains also contain folic acid. Health organizations worldwide have also recognized the importance of folate for pregnant women, and are recommending supplements and
Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens are also great sources of folate. Citrus fruits, lentils, beans, avocados, okra, and liver are also great sources of folate.
It’s important for pregnant moms to make sure that they’re getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid, which is the recommended dosage that would help lower pregnancy complications and birth defects in babies. Who knew that a single vitamin can do so much for your health? Folic acid really is the pregnancy ‘superhero’!
Sources: healthywomen.org, webmd.com, wikipedia.org
READ: 5 Fun and easy pregnancy exercises recommended by healthcare professionals
