Are You Getting Enough Folic Acid?
Even if you’re not pregnant, folic acid can provide a number of important health benefits. Here are 3 reasons to make sure you’re getting enough…
Folic acid is a requirement for good health, and you’ve probably heard that it is especially so for expectant mothers and cancer patients. But if you do not fall into one of these categories you may be wondering how folic acid would benefit you.
Here are three reasons why you will want to make sure you are getting enough folic acid in your diet:
1.) Preventative Health
The first reason to make sure you are getting enough folic acid is for preventative reasons. After all, you brush your teeth to avoid tooth decay, and you drink water daily to prevent dehydration, right? Increasing your folic acid intake may help prevent major health issues down the road such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. It can also help in rebuilding cells and building new cells. Besides all of these benefits, folic acid also helps keep your immune system strong to fight off illness.
2.) Nutrient Absorption
As you get older, absorbing nutrients from plants, fruits, and vegetables can become increasingly difficult. (Some experts suggest this is one of the reasons why we start showing more signs of aging.) You can try to take multiple sources of nutrients to make up for the loss, but a better option may be to increase your folic acid intake. Folic acid and the foods it is found in, like avocados, can help you absorb nutrients easier and get the most out of each one. Taking a folic acid supplement can help you absorb all kinds of other vitamins and minerals from your food, which may help you reduce the number of supplements you need to take.
3.) Gut Health
Folic acid also helps with digestion and overall gut health. By improving elimination of waste from the body, you can decrease your toxic load and minimize your chances of developing gut health issues.
Just because you’re not an expectant mother doesn’t mean you don’t need folic acid. For all the reasons listed above, everyone needs an adequate daily intake of folate. Keep in mind that your needs will depend on your own personal health issues and challenges. These reasons are just the three main reasons that affect the most people. Ask your doctor to check your folic acid levels if you are unsure of how much you need.
