Folic acid may be one of things to remember when planning your meals, especially if you're expecting a baby. A new study says that more folic acid in your diet may be the best way to reduce the number of babies born with severe birth defects. Researchers from University College in Dublin say that a four-year study of blood samples taken from pregnant women showed that those low in folate, a salt of folic acid, in red blood cells had the highest risk of bearing a child with neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. By increasing their folic acid intake to .4 milligrams a day, researchers found, birth defects theoretically decreased by 48 percent. They say that folic acid, a vitamin necessary for blood marrow to make red blood cells, is more effective when placed in food rather than taken as a supplement.
Folic acid is found in a wide variety of foods, including liver and raw vegetables.
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