Folate
Folate is not the lastest nutrient which has been recently found, in fact, it was found since 1941. Why it become widely popular? What are the benefits that meet the consumer need?

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin. It is not the lastest vitamin which has just been found ,in fact, it was found since 1941. The word "folate" is from latin word "folium" that means "leaf" since leafy green vegetables are the greatest source of this nutrient.

At present, more people are familiar with "folate" because they find or hear this name almost everywhere such as on product in supermarket, advertisement on radio or television, etc. Why traders use it as selling point? What are the benefits that meet the consumer need?
Folate VS Neural Tube Defects
According to researches, folate is essential for pregnancy since the body needs it to develop neural tube. Lacking of folate during the first three months of pregnancy can be cause of disability of baby's brain while lacking this nutrient during the last three months can be cause and risk of spina bifida in children. In addition, the studies in many countries such as in Europe, Canada and Israel show that taking at least 0.4 mg/day is good for foetus because it can reduce risk of neural tube defects.

Folate VS Heart Disease
Nowadays, heart disease is a main cause of death especially in industrial countries like USA and developing countries. Not only the increasing of LDL, high blood pressure, low HDL level, diabetes and obesity, epidemiological studies have shown that too much homocysteine (amino acid in blood) in the plasma is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease because high homocysteine levels in the blood can make blood clot more easily than it should. This can increase the risk of blood vessel blockages that link to a stroke. It might also make a problem with blood flow, such as atherosclerosis, worse.

Several researches have found that B vitamins particularly folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 help to lower homocysteine level in the body. Please make sure that you get enough folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 in your diet.

Folate VS Cancer
According to several researches, low folate level can link to cancer since folate is essential for synthesis, restoration and function of DNA. Lacking of folate means damage of DNA. People with this condition have a very high risk of develping cancer particularly of breast, pancreatic and colon.

However, there is no explicit evidence indicating that shortage of folate is a major cause of cancer. So, taking instant folic acid to reduce the risk of being cancer is not recommended until the studies about its side effect will succeed.

Folate can be generally found in all leafy green vegetables such as chinese kale, chinese chive flower, parsley, cabbage and cauliflower. In addition, orange, cultivated banana, Manila tamarind, dry beans, soybean powder, sunflower seeds, tomato and liver are also the rich sources of folate.

As folate is a water-soluble vitamin, it can be lost while cooking. That is why it is important to know how to cook. For example, if you prefer boiled vegetable, boil or scald it in a pot containing little of water. Do not forget to serve this boiled water during meal because there is also folate in the water. However, steamed vegetables are recommended because by this way, folate is still in your dish more than using the other cooking methods.

According to research, The US Public Health Service recommends that both women and men should have at least 400 microgram of folate per day However, it is not necessary to take instant foods since folate can be generally found in various foods in our daily life. The must-do is to eat a variety of foods which can provide us all 5 groups of nutrients as the body needs in each meal.

For pregnancy, folate is an essential nutrients for mother and foetus. After having a check-up, mothers may be considered to take vitamin complex or vitamin B complex to help the baby far from being handicapped.

Moreover, besides pregnant women, the elders and chronic patients who feel bored with food also need folic acid supplement but they should consult with the doctor before having it.

Folic acid supplement should not be taken more than 1,000 mg/day since it can be cause of deficiency of vitamin B12. Remember that although without vitamin B12 folic acid can solve anemia problem, only folic acid cannot heal brain problem. The disease will become permanent if the patient is still deficient in vitamin B12 for long time.

For elders especially who are over 50 years, taking folic acid supplement should be done cautiously since they have higher risk to have the problem of vitamin B12 deficiency when taking too much the above supplement. In case of necessity, they should go to see doctor to check the level of vitamin B12. In addition, if they have to take supplement that contains folic acid, read the label carefully if it contains vitamin B12. If not, ask this nutrient and some advices from your doctor.