Folate, or Vitamin B9, is best known for its role in pregnancy.
Expecting mothers are often told to takefolic acid, the synthetic form of folate, to prevent birth defects.
This B-complex vitamin occurs naturally in citrus fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and beef liver.
Consumers can also purchase bread, cereals, flour, pasta, and other foods fortified with folic acid.
But the human body cannot store large amounts of folate, notes theU.S.
That’s why it’s important to eat folate-rich foods every day, not just occasionally.
But why is folate so important?
Here’s the surprising reason you should be getting more of it.
Increase your folate intake to prevent anemia
Most people associate anemia with iron deficiency.
While it’s true that low iron levels can lead to anemia, folate deficiency may havesimilar effects.
Some people may also experience digestive problems, irritability, and loss of appetite, reportsJohns Hopkins Medicine.
If you’re constantlytired and low on energy, your diet might be the culprit.
As we noted above, this condition seems to be more common among pregnant women.
In addition to helping stave off anemia, according to theHarvard T.H.
In clinical trials, people who took folic acid supplements had lower rates of stroke andheart disease.
Moreover, it appears to have beneficial effects on brain function and mental health, reports the NIH.
