Women need a variety of nutrients to keep their bodies strong and to keep their hormones balanced. But folic acid, which is also known as folate, is one of the most important nutrients that you need to make sure you get through your diet and through supplements. To learn more about the benefits of folic acid for women, continue reading.
Cancer Prevention
Folic acid has been found to help prevent the occurrence of colorectal cancer, as well as some other forms of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, so if you have low levels of this nutrient in your blood, you may be at a higher risk.
In a study that was conducted from 1980-1994, women reduced their risk of cancer when they took over 400 mcg of folic acid daily. This nutrient works by making and repairing DNA during the creation of new cells. Low levels could lead to changes that adversely affect DNA, thereby contributing to cancer.
Reduce the Risk of Birth Defects
Women who are planning on getting pregnant and who are pregnant need to supplement with folic acid in order to prevent birth defects. In fact, if you start supplementing prior to conception, you can dramatically reduce the risk of your baby having neural tube defects of the brain and spine, such as anencephaly and spina bifida. This is why folic acid is routinely recommended and prescribed for women who are hoping to conceive.
Prevention of Hypertension
A study found that women who supplemented their diets with extra folic acid had a lower risk of getting hypertension. While folic acid should not be taken to treat hypertension, it could be a great natural way to prevent it from developing in the first place. You can easily buy vitamins online to get the folic acid that you need to keep your heart healthy every day.
Prevention of Anemia
Because folic acid assists in the bodyโs production and maintenance of new cells, particularly red blood cells, a deficiency in this nutrient is one of the causes of anemia in children and adults. In other words, you need adequate amounts of folic acid in your blood in order to form enough red blood cells to prevent anemia.
A Natural Way to Ease Depression
Folic acid supplementation has also been used as way to naturally treat symptoms of depression, as well as to enhance the effectiveness of antidepressant prescriptions. Studies have found that individuals who are not getting enough folic acid every day have a lowered response to antidepressant medicine, and folic acid can also play a role in regulating your mood. Whether you have been diagnosed as clinically depressed or you want to simply boost your mood, getting more folic acid may help.
There are a variety of health benefits that you can derive from folic acid, especially if you are a woman. Therefore, talk to your doctor about your diet and whether or not you should take extra folic acid every day, especially if you are taking any medications.
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