eugenez@azure.UUCP (Eugene Zinter) (03/07/84)
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* Folic Acid *
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Folic acid is one of the B vitamins necessary for good nutrition.
Its formula is:
C H N O
19 19 7 6
It helps in the growth of a healthy blood system and aids the
intestinal tract to stay healthy. The bacteria in the intestines
will ordinarily work to combine or synthesize various elements
together to form folic acid.
Once again, we see seemingly worthless bacteria working in a
symbiotic manner. Not only do they produce vitamin B12, but
produce Folic Acid.
As Steve Dyer said, the suggested daily allowance is 400 Micrograms
(0.4 Milligrams).
So it seems logical that all we have to do is get our digestive
tract in order to get enough B12 AND Folic Acid, produced for us
by the bacteria in our own intestines.
A deficiency of Folic Acid can result in:
It is suspected that serious problems may result in unborne
children, such as cleft palate (fissure or split in the roof
of the mouth), horseshoe kidneys (union of the kidneys at
the lower end), hydrocephalus (fluid within the cranium---
water on the brain), harelip, and heart and brain defects.
Anemia, megaloblastic anemia (shortage of large red blood
cells), and sprue (sore mouth, indigestion and diarrhea)
may occur also.
Individuals taking such drugs as aminopterin, streptomycin,
and the sulfa drugs must be warned that these drugs DESTROY
Folic Acid.
Now for those who need or think they need Folic Acid supplements
in order to meet their needs, I suggest eating foods that are
known to contain Folic Acid. That way, you will be assured of
getting the highest quality and not some synthetic version.
I don't have a list (yet) showing the amounts of Folic Acid in
various foods, but I have a small list that contains abundant
amounts of Folic Acid:
spinach
watercress
greens of mustard, beet turnips, parsely, carrots, broccoli
generally in almost all green leaves of vegetables and herbs
mushrooms
soybeans
wheat germ
liver
milk
Naturally you will be assured that you are getting Folic Acid
if you eat these foods RAW (uncooked) where possible.
I will try to get a list together once I find a more recent source.
The information presented here is 11 years old and could probably
use some updating!!! Anyone else have any further information?
ECZ