What is folic acid?
It is an unsaturated fatty acid that the body can not produce by itself. It is a type of vitamin B compound. It is also known as vitamin B9. It is very essential for healthy body, stimulating the production of red blood cells and the distribution of iron metal to all cells in the right way. It is also very useful for building muscles, nerves, , Hair, digestive system, and the production of DNA and RNA, and it helps to accelerate the growth process during the important stages of childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy.
Sources of folic acid
Folic acid can be obtained from many natural foods. It is found in spinach, lettuce, beans, peas, artichokes, strawberries, kale, cabbage, sunflower seeds, peppers, asparagus, broccoli, lentils, avocados, beets, , Celery; well in nuts, peanuts, flax seeds, oranges, liver, honey, brown rice, and others.
Benefits of folic acid
- Folic acid reduces the risk of cancer, because folate helps to produce DNA, which prevents the formation of tumor cancer, its presence in the body prevents cancer of the pancreas, colon, stomach, ovary, breast cancer, and cervical cancer as well.
- Folic acid intake is moderately effective in resisting depression and stress, improving the ability to sleep deeply and fighting night insomnia. The lack of this acid in the body causes anemia that leads to depression and bad mood.
- Folic acid intake helps to improve memory strength and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
- Folic acid protects the heart from serious diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke and sudden heart attack, because it reduces the level of homocysteine, which causes heart problems.
- Folic acid is of great importance to the pregnant mother. Taking it for regular low doses of folic acid protects the fetus from the incidence of congenital malformations such as rabbits, deformities of the heart and kidney, which studies have shown to be due to the lack of this acid in the mother.
- Folic acid helps to protect hair from falling, increase its growth, height and renewal of damaged, improve its appearance and touch, and it delays the growth of gray hair.
- Folic acid is seen in the production of red and white blood cells, as it helps stimulate the immune system and protect the body from disease.
- Folic acid reduces the amount of harmful cholesterol in the body, thus lowering arterial blood pressure and heart problems resulting from it.
- Folic acid treats anemia, anemia, because it helps to raise hemoglobin in the blood.
- Folic acid is useful in the body’s energy production, vitality and activity, and fights fatigue and chronic fatigue.
- Nourishes the brain and enters the metabolism of proteins in the body.