| In a discussion of the importance vitamin B, | | | | nineteen forty one it was extracted from |
| folic acid is nearly always included. Not | | | | spinach. |
| that vitamin B refers to just one | | | | |
| vitamin--there are actually many. But at | | | | You can also find folic acid in othere green |
| least when vitamins B6 and B12 are involved | | | | leafy veggies, dry beans, peas, and fruits. |
| folic acid is included. This is because folic | | | | Currently many governments fortify their |
| acid is a B vitamin. | | | | white flour with folates and you can often |
| | | | find cereal with enough folic acid in it to |
| The B vitamins are a set of vitamins that | | | | meet your daily requirment. |
| when originally discovered were all mistaken | | | | |
| to be one vitamin and that vitamin was named | | | | Speaking of daily requirement, the |
| vitamin B. That's why you will notice that | | | | recommended daily requirement for folic acid |
| there are so many different vitamins running | | | | is four hundred micrograms. If you are |
| around these days with 'vitamin B' as part of | | | | pregnant, could become pregnant or lactating |
| their label. | | | | take between six hundred and eight hundred |
| | | | micrograms daily. |
| Today the B vitamins are known as a complex | | | | |
| of vitamins that all interact with each other | | | | Folic acid is necessary for the replication |
| and are commonly found in the same foods. | | | | and maintenance of DNA and RNA. It helps to |
| When buying a vitamin B complex in the store | | | | prevent changes in your DNA that can lead to |
| it will contain many different vitamins that | | | | cancer and its needed for proper growth and |
| go under the 'B vitamin' label. All in all | | | | to make red blood cells. Thus it is very |
| there are eight B vitamins that we humans use | | | | important for the pregnant and those who may |
| and among them is folic acid. There are other | | | | become pregnant in order to prevent birth |
| B vitamins that people don't use but you | | | | defects. |
| needn't worry about them. | | | | |
| | | | A deficiency of folic acid may present itself |
| You may find folic acid referred to as a | | | | with Diarhhea, poor apetite, weakness, sore |
| folate, Vitamin B-9, Vitamin M and Vitamin | | | | tongue, headaches, heart palpitations, and |
| B-c. These are all the same vitamin running | | | | neurological problems. |
| around under varying pseudonyms. Also you may | | | | |
| find it interesting to know that since the | | | | In general B vitamins help to keep up your |
| discovery that vitamin B was really so many | | | | metabolism, help you maintain healthy skin |
| different vitamins many of them have been | | | | and muscle tone. They benefit your immune |
| renamed, so the eight that we have today | | | | system and nervous system. They also help |
| aren't all of the original B vitamins. Some | | | | with cell growth and can fight stress, |
| have had legal name changes. | | | | depression, and cardiovascular disease. |
| | | | |
| Folic acid was found in the nineteen thirties | | | | Remember your body doesn't store B vitamins |
| to help prevent anemia in many pregnant | | | | well. You must get them daily but luckily |
| women. Of course back then there wasn't a | | | | folic acid and other B vitamins are present |
| synthesized form of folic acid, so it was | | | | in many foods. |
| initially given in yeast extract. Later in | | | | |