What Does Folic Acid Do For Women?
Some supplements have been around for years and are still important to have in your diet, especially if they provide beneficial properties at some point. For example, folic acid has been associated with helping to maintain a healthy pregnancy since the 1990s. What is this vitamin that plays such an important role in women’s health? What results do you expect to see when you take them? What does folic acid do for women? We plan to answer these and many other questions in today’s blog post, so stay tuned if you’d like to learn more.
Before we get too concerned, let’s take a quick look at what folic acid is and the benefits it has for your body.
What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a form of folate, also known as vitamin B9.
Folic acid helps the body make red blood cells, which means it can be effective in treating and preventing mild anemia.
Folic acid is known for helping the embryo develop, ensuring that complications such as spina bifida do not occur while the baby is developing.
It is recommended that mothers take folic acid before the 12th week of pregnancy.
Folic acid can help reduce the side effects of a medication called methotrexate, which is used to help treat arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.
The dose varies from product to product, with some taken once a day and others once a week.
If you want to introduce folic acid into your daily life, it is highly recommended that you consult your doctor and avoid self-diagnosis.
Now that we have given a brief overview of folic acid and how it works, let’s explore further to learn more about the results you can expect to see.
What are the symptoms of low folic acid?
Symptoms of low folic acid are associated with vitamin B12 deficiency and mild anemia. This is due to fewer red blood cells or low levels of hemoglobin, a substance that is present in every red blood cell. There are some common signs of anemia and low levels of folic acid, for example.
- Low energy, usually feeling lethargic
- Extreme fatigue and tiredness
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent headaches and dizziness
- Pale complexion
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
These are common side effects for many people with anemia. Some other symptoms that may occur when you are deficient in folic acid are.
- Loss of sense of taste
- Depressive symptoms
- Muscle weakness throughout the body
- Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
- Diarrhea
When you experience these symptoms, it is important to consult your doctor or general practitioner. It is important to address the problem and start taking the proper supplements to treat the problem because the longer it goes untreated, the more long-term damage that can occur.
Will folic acid help me lose weight?
No, not really, in fact you will find the opposite, many scientific results show that taking too much and unnecessary folic acid can lead to weight gain as well as fat accumulation and inflammation.
If your goal when taking supplements is weight loss, you will find that you can only find a handful of products that provide safe and sustainable results. The best way to lose weight is to follow an achievable exercise routine and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.
When should I take folic acid in the morning and evening?
When taking folic acid, it is best to take it at the same time as each dose. Depending on the product and how often you take it, if you have folic acid in the morning, you should continue taking it in the morning. The same applies if you choose to take folic acid in the evening.
You can take folic acid with or without food, preferably with a glass of water. Once you have all the information from your doctor, introducing folic acid into your lifestyle is a simple task. It is important to be aware of some of the side effects that can occur when taking folic acid, for example.
Minor side effects of folic acid
- Feeling nauseous
- Bloating
- Upset stomach
These are common and usually subside after a few days. If they get worse or you become increasingly worried, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Serious side effects of folic acid
- Skin rash
- itching
- Peeling skin
- Swelling of the face, lips and mouth
- Difficulty breathing
The key is to stop taking any products as these are signs of an allergic reaction to folic acid. Request an emergency appointment or seek immediate medical attention.
Why do doctors prescribe folic acid?
The reason your doctor prescribes folic acid is to treat and prevent folic acid deficiency. You will also often find that introducing a B complex supplement can quickly and effectively boost your folic acid levels. Another reason your doctor may prescribe folic acid is if you find yourself pregnant and need to take folic acid daily to ensure that your embryo’s development is supported and the risk of birth defects is limited.
Prescription folic acid supplements come in tablet form and usually need to be taken once a day, or at the recommended daily dose on the label. It is very important not to exceed the recommended amount, as this can lead to complications. It is also not necessary to take more folic acid in the hope that it will make you feel better sooner, as for many people with anemia, a significant improvement is usually felt within 24 hours.