Folate Contributes to Health in Several Ways
Folate is needed for proper growth and development. It helps make new cells so folate is very important for a pregnant woman and her baby. Children and teenagers need plenty of folate, too.
Folate is needed to make healthy red blood cells. If folate is in short supply, red blood cells cannot divide properly, which can cause anemia.
Eating folate-rich foods (for example, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes such as dried beans and peas, and orange juice) as part of a healthy diet is a great way to help you get the folate you need every day.
As an added bonus, these foods contribute to overall health in other ways because they are:
- Good sources of other vitamins and minerals.
- Higher in fiber.
- Lower in fat.
- Lower in sodium.
Folate is needed for good health and may help reduce the risk of serious birth defects and some chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers.