Sometimes folic acid is called a "vitamin of motherhood", as it is necessary for complete synthesis of nucleic acids that contain information about heredity, and also participate in the formation of cells of the nervous system. A future mother needs to receive an additional dose of folic acid for 3-4 months before pregnancy. This will help prevent the appearance of pathologies in the unborn child.
Properties of folic acid.
After studies conducted by Swedish scientists, it was proven that excess doses of folic acid taken during pregnancy, 2-fold increase the chances of having twins. But, at the same time the child can appear in the light prematurely, however kids are more likely to be without defects. Therefore, women with not very good heredity are recommended to take vitamin B9 before conception.
Very useful vitamin B9 in the development of red blood cells, as well as when replacing and repairing the remaining cells in the body. The high content of folic acid in old age greatly helps to maintain mental capacity. Scientists conducted an experiment in which people aged 50-70 years were added to food supplements with vitamin B9. After a certain period, tests were conducted, which determined intelligence and memory. The subjects showed results typical of people younger than them for five years.
With all this, it must be remembered that a long-term high concentration of folic acid can cause increased excitability, also the vitamin B12 content may decrease, and this leads to diseases of the nervous system.
The daily requirement of vitamin B9.
Consider the usual daily requirement for folic acid. An adult person needs 400 micrograms a day, which is equal to one hundred millionth of a gram, a pregnant woman needs up to 600 micrograms per day, and a newborn baby needs 40-60 micrograms. To keep the vitamin in the body in sufficient quantities, it is necessary to include in the daily diet leaves of lettuce, spinach, parsley and other dark green vegetables. After all, not just folic acid was called so from the Latin word "folium" - leaf.
Although, to ordinary green leaves, you can add more delicious products. For example, if you eat milk for breakfast with a glass of orange juice, half the daily dose will be covered. A 100 grams of germinated wheat contain 350 μg of folic acid.
Deficiency of folic acid.
About the lack of vitamin B9 in the body will say the following symptoms: absent-mindedness, fatigue, forgetfulness, anxiety, fear, depression, loss of appetite and digestive disorders, early graying, sore tongue and mucous lips.
A long deficit can lead to abdominal pain, anemia, mouth and throat ulcers, diarrhea, nausea, hair loss and skin changes.
In addition, a substance is accumulated in the blood, which affects the walls of blood vessels maliciously and has a destructive effect. All this leads to the development of atherosclerosis, therefore, there is a high risk of stroke and heart attack.
A pregnant woman should not have a deficiency in folic acid, otherwise there is a great chance that the baby will be born with mental development abnormalities, or with brain pathologies, and in the worst case, with its absence.
Only a third of the beneficial properties of the vitamin that enter the body, enters the bloodstream and reaches the cells. People who suffer from diarrhea and vomiting, absorb it in smaller amounts. In this regard, take folic acid in high doses.
Excess folic acid in the body is simply necessary for those who like to sunbathe for a long time, because the rays of the sun destroy expensive molecules to us.
Also, an increased dose is desirable to people who are energetic, leading a very active lifestyle, but also to people who are under stress. Naturally, this recommendation is applicable to growing children.
The content of folic acid in foods.
Contains vitamin in animal products - kidneys, liver, cheese, cottage cheese, egg yolk, caviar. The body in the reserve always has a folacin substance, it can replenish the lack of acid until half a year, as well as a deficit that appears when there is a violation of absorption of the vitamin or increased needs in it.