Dark green vegetables and nuts such as sunflower seeds and peanuts are rich in folic acid; the picture shows a situational photo.


(Picture taken from shutterstock)

[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] Expectant mothers pay attention!

It is necessary to supplement "folic acid" during pregnancy, if it is seriously deficient, it will affect the health of the baby.

The doctor pointed out that severe lack of folic acid during pregnancy may cause neural tube defects in the baby.

Dietitian Li Wanping invited Ye Changqing, the attending physician of the Department of Women's Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, to share about the importance of folic acid on her Facebook fan page "Li Wanping Dietitian" and her personal website.

Please read on...

Ye Changqing pointed out that a serious lack of folic acid is related to the health of the baby, which will mainly affect neural tube defects and cause cleft lip and palate.

The mother's symptoms are milder than the baby's, and may be sleepy, tired, emotionally unstable, foggy, forgetful, and increase the chance of anemia.

Ye Changqing reminded that it is necessary to pay attention to the health education manual for pregnant women obtained during the obstetric examination, which contains relevant health education knowledge, including a balanced diet and nutritional supplements.

Recommended daily intake of folic acid during pregnancy

● Women of childbearing age: 400 micrograms a day.

●Pregnant women and pregnant women: 600 micrograms a day.

● Breastfeeding women: 500 micrograms a day.

Ye Changqing said that in addition to the above-mentioned recommended daily intake of folic acid based on the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) of Chinese people, some groups need to supplement a higher dose of 4,000 micrograms of folic acid, including pregnant women who have given birth to a fetus with neural tube defect; Diabetics with diabetes; mommy on anti-epileptic drugs.

In addition, he also reminded that whether additional folic acid needs to be supplemented and how much should be supplemented should still be adjusted according to individual circumstances, rather than a large amount.

Pregnant mothers do not miss the golden period of folic acid deficiency

Folic acid supplementation is especially important in the early stages of pregnancy, Ye Changqing explained, because the baby's organs will begin to develop within the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Some pregnant mothers may not pay special attention before pregnancy. When they find out that they are pregnant, they are often 1-2 months pregnant, and they miss the golden period accidentally.

According to the current data from the National Health Administration, the proportion of women of childbearing age deficient in folic acid is increasing year by year. In 2020, about 1 in 10 women of childbearing age will be deficient in folic acid.

He mentioned that a severe lack of folic acid is related to the health of the baby, mainly affecting the neural tube defect and causing cleft lip and palate.

If the neural tube defect is located in the spine, spina bifida will occur, which may cause abnormal lower body movements after birth.

Folic acid deficiency prone to anemia rich in dark green vegetables

Li Wanping said that people who like to eat cakes and desserts, often eat fast food, processed products, or are picky eaters who do not like vegetables (especially dark green vegetables) are most likely to be deficient in folic acid.

Ye Changqing pointed out that during pregnancy, the development of the baby is continuous, so as long as you realize that you need to eat folic acid, it is never too late; and the lack of folic acid is related to anemia, which is helpful for maintaining women's daily life.

●Staple food: The main food can choose whole grains, such as chickpeas, mung beans, red quinoa.

●Side dishes: Spinach, chives, and red amaranth among dark green vegetables can be selected as side dishes.

●Dim sum: Sunflower seeds and peanut kernels can be ordered for dim sum; and protein-based black beans and pork liver are also good sources of folic acid.

Li Wanping explained that mothers should eat at least 2 fist-sized dark green vegetables a day.

In addition, to eat the recommended daily intake of 600 micrograms of folic acid, it is equivalent to 2.3 bowls of spinach; 1.3 bowls of spinach leaves; 4 bowls of spinach; 15 bowls of cabbage.

But a balanced diet is the best way to do it. Don’t only eat dark green vegetables and ignore other nutrients for folic acid supplementation.

She also mentioned that folic acid is actually an essential nutrient for the human body, not only pregnant women need to supplement, otherwise, they are prone to dizziness, fatigue and other symptoms of anemia.

☆Do not miss health news, follow the fan page by like.


☆For more important medical news, please visit the free health network.

keywords

  • paralysis

  • forgetful

  • anemia

  • Cleft lip and palate

  • incontinence

  • nutrients

  • tired

  • folic acid

  • spina bifida

  • pregnancy

  • neural tube defect

related news