January 6-12 is National Folic Acid Awareness Week. Adequate folic acid intake is important for the prevention of birth defects.
Facts About Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin. Our bodies use it to make new cells. Everyone needs folic acid.
US CDC urges women to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine.
Why folic acid is so important
Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida).
When to start taking folic acid
For folic acid to help prevent some major birth defects, a woman needs to start taking it at least one month before she becomes pregnant and while she is pregnant.
Every woman needs folic acid every day, whether she’s planning to get pregnant or not, for the healthy new cells the body makes daily. Think about the skin, hair, and nails. These – and other parts of the body – make new cells each day.
How a woman can get enough folic acid
There are two easy ways to be sure to get enough folic acid each day:
1. Take a vitamin that has folic acid in it every day.
Most multivitamins sold in the United States have the amount of folic acid women need each day. Women can also choose to take a small pill (supplement) that has only folic acid in it each day.
Multivitamins and folic acid pills can be found at most local pharmacy, grocery, or discount stores. Check the label to be sure it contains 100% of the daily value (DV) of folic acid, which is 400 micrograms (mcg).
2. Eat a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100% of the daily value of folic acid every day.
Not every cereal has this amount. Check the label on the side of the box, and look for one that has “100%” next to folic acid.
Showing posts with label folic acid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folic acid. Show all posts
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Birth Defects Prevention
January is Birth
Defects Prevention Month. Major birth defects are conditions that cause
structural changes in one or more parts of the body; are present at birth; and
have a serious, adverse effect on health, development, or functional ability.
About one in
every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. Birth defects are a leading cause
of infant death, accounting for more than 1 of every 5 infant deaths. In
addition, babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and
long term disability than babies without birth defects.
Not all birth defects
can be prevented. But a woman can increase her own chance of having a
healthy baby. Many birth defects happen very early in pregnancy, sometimes
before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Remember that about half of all
pregnancies are unplanned. Here are some steps a woman can take to get ready
for a healthy pregnancy:
- Take a vitamin with 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and street drugs.
- Keep hands clean by washing them often with soap and water to
- prevent infections.
- See a health care professional regularly.
- Talk with the health care professional about any medical problems and medicine use (both prescription and over-the-counter).
- Ask about avoiding any substances at work or at home that might be harmful to a developing baby.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made from it.
- Avoid eating raw or under cooked meat.
While pregnant, keep
up these healthy habits, get early prenatal care, and go to every appointment.
For more information about preventing birth defects, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/index.html
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