Folic Acid Benefits
Folic acid benefits and health effects are well known since the 1980s. Like other B vitamins, folic acid should be made part of a healthy and a balanced diet.
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9 or folate, is mainly found in dark green leafy vegetables- spinach, asparagus, brussels sprouts, legumes- beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, mushrooms, milk, salmon, tuna, fruit juices, bananas, oranges, citrus fruits, whole grains, chicken, turkey and liver.
• Folic acid is used in the production of red blood cells and normal metabolism.
• It has an important function in replication and division of the cells. When the supplement is taken at least three months before giving birth, it can seriously help prevent birth defects and can also prevent infant spinal cord defects such as spina bifida.
• Folic Acid- vitamin B9 helps with the healthy development of the fetus, and can help prevent conditions such as spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
• It is believed to be able to increase sperm count in men as a group of infertile men had very low levels of folic acid in their semens in a recent study.
• By lowering homocysteine levels, folic acid keeps your heart healthy. Elevated homocysteine in the blood means damaged blood vessels, which may lead to plaque formation in arteries and this is a lot to do with with vitamin B deficiency and folic acid.
• Lowered levels of folate is found in people living with Alzhemier’s. Eating plenty of folic acid can cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in half according to a study by US National Institute of Aging. This is also partly because of folic acid being capable of building neural tissues and cells.
• Stroke: High homocysteine levels can also cause stroke- a fatal disorder of brain, which is a rapidly developing loss of brain function and folic acid, by balancing the levels of homocysteine can reduce the risk of stroke.
• Depression: Several studies found correlation between folic acid deficiency and depression and other mental and emotional disorders such as mania. Vitamins B9, B12 and B6 work together in reducing the homocysteine levels in your blood, high homocysteine is linked with depression and other mental disorders.
• Deficiency in folic acid and other vitamins may cause malabsorption of food and chronic diarrhea.
• Vitamin B9 is believed to help with building muscles, by helping in growth and maintenance of muscle tissues.
• Folic acid is proven to improve gum health and treat gingivitis, along with vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin B3.
• You may be protected from colon, esophagus, stomach and breastcancers by taking sufficient amount of folate daily.
• Certain studies claimed that large amounts of folic acid supplements may reduce the levels of uric acid, which in excess, causes gout.
• Last but not least, as one of the most important folic acid benefits 🙂 it is found to be highly beneficial for skin health, by the role it plays in healthy cell reproduction.
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