Fantastic Folate

Heard about the wonders of folic acid but can’t quite remember why you need it? In fact, folic acid is part of the Vitamin B group, and it’s the only vitamin in which its requirement double up during pregnancy. The reason is that folic acid is a key weapon in fighting neural tube defects in babies, the culprit behind c...onditions such as spina bifida. A lack of folic acid has also been linked to birth defects such as cleft palates and harelips. So, how much do you need? Ideally, women who are trying to get pregnant should start taking the recommended dosage (0.5mg a day) before conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. You can either take folic acid tablets or folate in its natural form, via at least two servings of fruit, five servings of vegetables and seven servings of bread and cereals a day.