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Folate is an essential B vitamin but you many be more aware of the synthetic version folic acid that is used in fortified foods and supplements. Folate – or vitamin B9 – is necessary for keeping your body healthy.
Folate is found in many foods including dark leafy greens, beans, beef liver, and fruits like oranges, according to MedicalNewsToday. Because of the importance of this essential vitamin, it is added to fortified and enriched cereals, breads, and grains. Here are five of the top health benefits of folate.
Helps to Prevent Birth Defects
Folate plays an important role in a baby’s development because it is involved in cell division and tissue growth. According to Healthline, vitamin B is essential to help prevent neural tube defects that include spina bifida and anencephaly. That’s why women who are pregnant, or want to get pregnant, are prescribed folic acid supplements. Folic acid can also lower the risk of pregnancy complications including preeclampsia.
Contains Heart Health Properties
There is a correlation between high levels of the protein homocysteine in your blood and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes, explained WebMD. This is caused by a deficiency of folate. But eating more folate-rich foods help your body to break down the protein.
Could Decrease Cancer Risk
Getting enough folate in your diet could reduce the risk of getting some cancers. This includes lowering the risk of squamous cell carcinoma which is the second most common type of skin cancer. But folate has also been shown to reduce the risk of other cancers too.
A 2017 study published in the journal Oncotarget found that folate could protect you against some cancers including: breast, lung, cervical, and stomach cancers.
Helps Maintain Brain Health
Having low folate levels have been linked to poor cognition and dementia, according to Healthline. Even levels that are on the lower side of normal range increase this risk.
On the flip side, people who have a high level of folate intake could be protected against Alzheimer’s disease. A 2019 randomized trial of 160 adults who had mild cognitive impairment found that taking 400 mcg of folic acid supplements every day for two years had improved brain function and a reduced amount of the blood levels associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Aids in Mental Health Treatments
Folate can help with your mental health. That’s because the vitamin is involved in the brain chemicals that are called neurotransmitters, according to Healthline. Having a folate deficiency in your blood has been linked to depression and other mental health issues. While folate alone cannot “cure” these conditions, taking folic acid along with antidepressant medication or antipsychotics for people who suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, helps to reduce symptoms.
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