Folic rich foods to support healthy pregnancy
Repost from @nutritiousmotherhood
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Today I’m highlighting the importance of folate. Folate is one of the B-vitamins and is needed to make red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, convert carbohydrates into energy that the body can use, and produce DNA and RNA.
Adequate folate intake is extremely important during periods of rapid growth such as pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence.
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of folate is different for people of different ages,
Over 14 years old: 400 mcg
during pregnancy: 600 mcg
during lactation: 500 mcg
Anyone who may become pregnant is recommended to obtain 400 micrograms (mcg) per day of folic acid from dietary supplements in addition to the folate present in a varied diet. Folate requirements increase during pregnancy and breastfeeding to fuel rapid growth and prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.
Some additional benefits include descreased risk of congenital deformities and lower risk of depression.
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