It's hard to believe that your morning breakfast cereal or that salad you had for lunch could protect your future children's lives or even prevent you from getting cancer, but that may, in fact, be exactly what's happening. Regular consumption of at least 400 mcg of folate or folic acid daily prevents serious birth defects and keeps your own cells healthy and abundant, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Prevents Birth Defects
The most significant reason to make sure you get enough folic acid is to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus, should you become pregnant. Women who don't get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with spina bifida and anencephaly, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC goes on to say that as many as 75 percent of women in the US don't get the recommended 400 mcg daily.
Cell Production
Folic acid plays a critical role in producing cells, especially red blood cells. The vitamin is so important to cell production that it helps prevent anemia. Folic acid's role in cell production accounts for why pregnant women need adequate amounts of the B vitamin. During pregnancy, not only does rapid red blood cell production happen as your body creates new life, but your own blood volume increases by as much as 50 percent.
Cancer Prevention
Folic acid may play a role in preventing cancer, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Folic acid helps create not only your cells, but also DNA -- your body's specific genetic fingerprint. When you get enough folic acid, the vitamin helps safeguard your DNA against mutations or changes that sometimes lead to cancer.
Readily Available Sources
One of the best ways to get folic acid into your body is to eat breakfast cereal. The US Food and Drug Administration requires fortified cereals to contain folic acid. Enriched grains, rice and pasta also contribute to your intake. Non-fortified foods that provide the recommended daily amount include green vegetables, beans, eggs and fruit. While it's best to get your vitamins and minerals from food, a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin are also available and make reliable sources of folic acid, according to the website Women Health.
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