How Folic Acid Can Help You Get Pregnant
Becoming pregnant can be frustrating and discouraging when it doesn't happen right away. There are many common problems that could be preventing you from getting pregnant including a folic acid, or folate, deficiency.
According to research fellow Dr. Jorge Chavarro from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, folic acid is one of the most important reasons for reducing the chance of ovulatory failure.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B-vitamin folate, it can be found in supplements as well as enriched foods such as cereal or other grains.
Taking folic acid for at least one month before conception reduces the risk of neural-tube defects, such as spina bifida, by up to 70 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The recommended-daily dose of folic acid for women who want to get pregnant is .4 milligrams, during pregnancy the recommended amount is .6 to .8 milligrams.
Not only can it help you get pregnant, but this vitamin can also help embryo survival as well as brain development of the child during pregnancy.
A study done by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine on more than 18,000 women found that those who took multivitamins that included folic acid had improved fertility.
These women also had a 40 percent lower risk of complications producing eggs.
Along with supplements, you can find folic acid in its natural form in many vegetables and fruits:
* Lentils
* Dried beans, peas
* Broccoli
* Spinach
* Collard or turnip greens
* Okra
* Asparagus
* Citrus fruit: papaya, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, raspberries
* Avocado
* Seed & nuts
* Cauliflower
* Beets
* Corn
* Carrots
* Squash
Getting the recommended-daily amount of folic acid before and during pregnancy is one of the easiest ways to improve fertility and to have a healthier pregnancy. You can find folic acid supplements at your local grocery story.
