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Article: Folate-rich diet can ease some worries for moms-to-be
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- April 11, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2001 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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Folic acid (sometimes called folate or folacin) is a B vitamin
found in many vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, and fortified
breakfast cereals.
Getting enough folate helps prevent birth defects. New research
studies its role in preventing heart disease and cancer. For folic
acid, the recommended daily value is 400 micrograms.
If you are a woman in your child-bearing years, a healthy eating
pattern along with an additional 400 micrograms of folic acid might
help reduce the risk of serious birth defects of the spine and brain,
known as neural tube defects.
It's easy to get folic acid in the foods you eat. Since January