Folic Acid....Folate and Your Fertility

Taking Folic acid when preparing for pregnancy and throughout pregnancy is very important...... It has been found to aid in:

- The development of and function of the fetal nervous system and the brain. It prevents spina bifida

- DNA formation and cell growth

- Protection against some cancers eg. Lung, Colon, Cervical....

- Proper cell division

- Amino acid formation. It helps to prevent heart disease, stroke and miscarriage by maintaining healthy levels of homocysteine because high levels cause excessive blood clotting.

- Supports the growth of the placenta and prevents several birth defects, low birth weight, preterm delivery and pregnancy loss

- It has also been found to improve sperm quality in men.

Some substances should be avoided while trying to improve fertility as you are taking Folic acid because it prevents or reduces its absorption from the gut. Examples are....Alcohol, Antibiotics, Green tea, Black tea, Aspirins, Antacids, Oral Contraceptive Pills.

Folic Acid can be gotten naturally from the following foods and you don't need to worry about overdose (if you are combining them with supplements) because the body can handle high doses..... Broccoli, Avocados, Grape fruits, Cucumber, Tomato, Okra, Cabbage, Liver, Papaya, Walnuts, Cauliflower, Bell peppers, etc.

Always consult your Doctor if you are trying to get pregnant.

-ChikaO