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When you become a parent, you start thinking about things you never did. You want to know about every vitamin and how it helps your child grow. Understanding these vitamins and minerals and how much your child needs can help them stay healthy and grow well.
Folate is super important for kids, even before they are born. It is a vitamin that helps their bodies work right. It is like the secret helper behind the scenes, ensuring everything runs smoothly. But here is the thing: our bodies cannot make folate on their own, so it must be provided from the food that they consume.
This vitamin is crucial for your child's growth and development. It helps their body make DNA, the building blocks of life and keeps their blood healthy. So, ensuring they get enough folate is important. You might be surprised that you can find folate in many foods you already eat, like leafy greens, beans, and fruits.
Understanding folate and its importance can help you make sure your child gets what they need to grow healthy and strong right from the start.
What Is Folic Acid/Folate?
Folic acid is an essential vitamin, an essential nutrient for the boy. It is known as folate and is found in many fruits and vegetables. Folate is much more easily converted in your gut to the form of vitamin B9 that your body needs and is readily absorbed and used. Your body needs to work harder to convert folic acid to a form it can use, so it takes more energy and time.
Folate is crucial for a child's growth and development. This essential vitamin supports forming healthy red blood cells, critical for oxygen transport throughout the body. It also aids in properly developing the brain and spinal cord, ensuring optimal cognitive and physical growth. By incorporating folic acid into a child's diet, you can help promote strong, healthy development during their formative years.
Difference Between Folic Acid and Folate
Folate is a naturally occurring form of vitamin B9. The word in Latin means leaf. It is very common to find folate in leafy vegetables. Folate is a generic name for related compounds with similar nutritional properties.
Folic acid is a synthetic form of vitamin B9 known as monopteroylglutamic acid or pteroylmonoglutamic acid. It is used in supplements and added to processed food products, such as flour and breakfast cereals.
Look For Folate, Not Folic Acid For Kids For A Healthy Start
Instead of folic acid, choose folate for your kids. It is important during their early years, and into adulthood. It helps their little bodies and brains develop properly and gives them the energy to do all kids love. Folate-rich foods are an important part of the equation and a good place to start. Supplementation is equally important.
Benefits Of Folate For Kids
Growing kids need folate throughout life for growth and development. Here are the many benefits folates have for kids.
The Early Years
Folate is important because it helps cell and tissue growth. It also helps with the synthesis and repair of DNA and RNA. Folate supports the development of their brain, digestive, nervous, and immune systems. Folate for kids also supports their metabolism, converting the food they eat into energy so they can climb trees or play ball with their friends.
Maintaining Brain Health
Low blood folate levels are linked to poor mental function and an increased risk of dementia. Even folate levels that are technically normal but on the low side might increase the risk of mental impairment in older adults.
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Reducing Heart Disease Risk Factors
Folate-based supplements, including folic acid, help improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine are thought to increase heart disease risk. Because folate helps break down homocysteine, low folate can lead to high homocysteine levels, also known as hyperhomocysteinemia. Folic acid supplements can help reduce homocysteine levels and may lower heart disease risk.
Understanding the importance of folate is crucial for your child's health and development. Parents should make a mark that their kids need this much folate at this age. This essential vitamin supports DNA production, healthy red blood cells, and brain development. Since the body cannot produce folate, including folate-rich foods like leafy greens, beans, and fruits in your child's diet is vital. A proper folate intake from the start promotes strong, healthy growth and overall well-being.
The views expressed are that of the expert alone.
