What does folic acid do for the body?
Folic acid helps make healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. If we do not have enough folic acid, the body can make abnormally large red blood cells that do not work properly. This causes folate deficiency anaemia, which can cause tiredness and other symptoms.
Who needs folic acid?
For most people, it’s best to get folate from food. A balanced diet usually provides all you need. However, folic acid supplements are recommended for women who are planning to become pregnant, could become pregnant, are pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Does folic acid cause weight gain?
There is no evidence that people with adequate blood levels of folic acid will gain weight if they take supplements. However, weight loss is one possible side effect of a folate deficiency.
What are the symptoms of folic acid deficiency?
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- lack of energy (lethargy)
- breathlessness.
- feeling faint.
- headaches.
- pale skin.
- noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
What are the side effect of folic acid?
When taken by mouth: It is likely safe for most people to take folic acid in doses of no more than 1 mg daily. Doses higher than 1 mg daily may be unsafe. These doses might cause stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, irritability, confusion, behavior changes, skin reactions, seizures, and other side effects.
Can folic acid be harmful?
Is folic acid safe? At this time, folic acid taken at or up to the recommended amount of 400 micrograms per day (mcg/day) has not been shown to be harmful. Additional information continues to be assessed as it becomes available. The benefits of taking folic acid are well established.
Does folic acid help lose weight?
Along with good nutrition and enough exercise, supplements and vitamins like Omega Oils, B Complex, and folic acid will help your body maximize your weight loss efforts.
Why would your folic acid be low?
A diet low in fresh fruits, vegetables, and fortified cereals is the main cause of folate deficiency. In addition, overcooking your food can sometimes destroy the vitamins. Folate levels in your body can become low in just a few weeks if you don’t eat enough folate-rich foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin which is easily broken down by the body. This means you are unable to store the vitamin over time and it is excreted in the urine. It is a man-made vitamin that is found in supplements and is added to foods such as breakfast cereals and reduced-fat spreads.
What foods do you need to know about folic acid?
Folic Acid: Everything You Need to Know. Written by Erica Julson, MS, RDN, CLT on October 19, 2018. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a water-soluble vitamin also known as vitamin B9. It does not occur naturally in food but is frequently added to supplements and refined grain products, such as bread and cereals.
What are the benefits of taking folic acid supplements?
Research on use of folate and oral folic acid supplements for specific conditions shows: 1 Birth defects. Research has shown that folic acid supplements can prevent birth defects… 2 Folic acid deficiency. Nutritional folate deficiency is treated with oral folic acid supplements. 3 Heart and blood vessel disease and stroke. Folic acid works…
How does folic acid help to make healthy red blood cells?
1. About folic acid. Folic acid is the man-made version of the vitamin folate (also known as vitamin B9). Folate helps the body make healthy red blood cells and is found in certain foods.
What is folic acid, and should you be taking it?
Folic acid is the manufactured form of folate . Taking folic acid can help to make up for, or supplement, the folate that your body loses when you take methotrexate. Folic acid supplements, which are taken orally, can help decrease the side effects from folate deficiency.
What foods have a lot of folic acid?
List of Foods High in Folic Acid (Rich Source of Folic Acid) Folic acid is basically a vitamin of B complex nutrient, that is normally present in the foods like dried beans, peas, oranges, lentils, whole-wheat products, beets, asparagus, broccoli, and spinach.
What are the main benefits of folic acid?
- Healthier Heart. Folic acid will be very essential to keep the health of your heart.
- folic acid could protect you from stroke.
- Improve Male Fertility.
- Maintain Cholesterol Level.
- Prevent Cancer.
- Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer.
- Prevent You From Depression.
What are the risks of taking folic acid?
Supplements of folic acid are generally safe. If you take too much, you might get nausea, bloating, gas, and sleep problems. High doses also can interfere with some seizure drugs. Folic acid supplements sometimes can mask dangerous lack of vitamin B12.