Last week NNF told you that beginning in 1998, the U.S. government has required the fortification of baking flour and cold cereals with folic acid. Folate also is found in high amounts in liver, wheat bran, beans, spinach, and asparagus.
Moderate sources are most grains, corn, beet and turnip greens, broccoli, and some nuts.
Good sources include lean meats, dairy products, and most fruits. This is one example where the man-made version is better than the naturally occurring type. With the new recommendations for folate intake, fortified foods or supplements will often be needed. The main reason for the increase in the RDA for folate is prevention of neural tube defects in babies. It is not yet clear if there is a cause and effect relationship with these two diseases, but evidence is increasing that this is the case.