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Folic acid, what is it and when should we take it?
It's one of those things our Mammies would nag us to take. We've heard about it a million times, but how much do we really know about the supplement?
Recent research by
safefood found that 92 per cent of pregnant woman know that taking folic acid before and during pregnancy can help the baby's spine and brain to develop fully, greatly reducing the chance of spina bifida or another neural tube defect developing.
So obviously it's pretty important for all the soon-to-be-Mammies out there.
But we've got news for you ladies, folic acid is not just for expecting mums.
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One of the main misconceptions about the supplement is that you only need to start taking it when you're already pregnant. According to the research, only one in four Irish women take folic acid before falling pregnant.
There's a whole lot of good in that one little supplement that can benefit women who are trying, or even those of us who haven't given having a baby a second thought yet.
The survey found that the main barriers listed by women to taking folic acid were; low relevancy; a lack of advice to take folic acid; a belief that contraception is effective and forgetting to take folic acid.
Half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so it is recommended that anyone who may become pregnant should begin to take folic acid.
The easiest way to work the supplement into your routine is to take it at the same time everyday, or even carry the tablets in your purse with you.
Taking folic acid doesn't mean that you're trying to have a baby, it just means that you're preparing yourself for if and when you decide you want to.
One tiny tablet once a day could end up making a huge different to the lives of your future kids so you really might as well.
This article is brought to you by safefood.
