Folate (Folic Acid)

Food source: Wholegrains, spinach, broccoli, beans, lentils, seeds and fresh fruit.

Benefits of Folate

• Mental performance
• Neurological health
• Healthy hair and nails
• Regulates hormones
• Pregnancy support
• Energy

What is Folate? 

Folic Acid is part of the B-Vitamin family and also known as 'Vitamin B9'. It works alongside and in balance with other B vitamins. Folic Acid is the supplemental form of the nutrient ‘Folate’ which is found in food.

Both Folic Acid and Folate are converted in the body into their active form which is called 'Methyl Folate' through a process called 'methylation'. Once in its active form, Folate contributes to our normal tissue growth and the synthesis of amino acids which are so important to a range of bodily processes. The first of these is the creation of new DNA. Folic Acid is vital for the synthesis of DNA and the replication of new cells. Each time a cell in our body divides, Folic Acid is required. This is why Folic Acid is associated with the growth and regeneration of healthy hair and also why it’s so important during pregnancy, as the maternal tissue rapidly divides to grow the foetus, making the demand for Folate much higher.

A Folate deficiency can lead to some types of anaemia as it plays a role in the creation of new red blood cells and the transportation of oxygen around the body. This is another reason why it is so important during pregnancy, as the amount of blood circulating in the mother increases, the demand for Folic Acid increases for the creation of new red blood cells. Folic Acid is also needed for the synthesis of some hormones including 'adrenaline' and our happy hormone 'serotonin', which is why folic acid is often used in treatments for depression. It is also required, like other B Vitamins, for the generation of energy in our body and especially for the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose which cells then use for energy. 

Discover ‘A nutritionist recommended pregnancy diet guide’.