The Folic Acid Trap
The Folic Acid Trap
Raise your hand if you are a woman. Raise your hand again if you are a woman that is pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or have already had a child. Raise your hand if you have ever even been to the doctor’s office for a physical. If you raised your hand, I am sure your doctor has talked to you about the essential vitamin folic acid, after all, it prevents cancer, birth defects such as spina bifida, and helps lead a healthy lifestyle.
Trusting within your doctor, you stopped at a grocery store and picked up “folic acid” because after all, that’s what they told you to do. Unfortunately, that “vitamin” you picked up, does nearly nothing at all for you.
Folic Acid is a SYNTHESIZED version on vitamin B9. It came popular on the seen in 1998 when the FDA required b9 be inserted into enriched products such as bread, pasta, flour and cereals to prevent vitamin deficiencies. Companies now had to add this vitamin out of pocket to all products. Companies quickly realized that they could use synthetic B9 for a fraction of the cost of the real stuff. Thus, Folic acid was born.
*Folic Acid is not very bio-compatible, it takes a long to convert into B9 the body can use, leaving rest of the folic acid in the blood stream causing high folate blood serum, and overwhelms the liver.
FOLATE is the real B9, bio-compatible and perfect for the human body. It helps with DNA formation and Cell division. (Important for those trying to conceive, or pregnant) Good news is, eating a healthy diet rich in leafy greens, liver and avocados lead to a healthy folate level. Pregnant women should be aiming for 600 mcg a day, that can be taken with a folate supplement.
Go through your cabinet, check your prenatals, multi-vitamin or B-complex. If it lists “folic acid” do yourself a favor and throw it out.
What genes does it affect? MTHFR.
MTHFR is a common genetic mutation affecting 60% of the population. Its commonly known for its essential need for bio-compatible B9, Folate. People carrying the MTHFR gene mutation should be taking an ACTIVE methyl-folate B9.
