Tips for Getting and Absorbing Folic Acid
- Eat good food sources of folic acid every day. Some good sources are root vegetables, dark-green leafy vegetables (spinach, collard greens), asparagus, brussels sprouts, romaine lettuce and broccoli. Other good sources are beans, black-eyed peas, cantaloupe, orange juice, oatmeal, whole grains/whole-grain cereals, wheat germ, and liver and other organ meats.
- Eat fresh, raw fruits and vegetables often. Don’t overcook food. Heat destroys folic acid.
- Take the daily vitamin supplement your doctor suggests or prescribes.
- Don’t smoke.
- Don’t drink alcohol. It interferes with absorption of folic acid.
In 1998 the government ordered some grain products such as flour, breakfast cereal and pasta to be fortified with folic acid. Folic acid is best obtained from fresh vegetables, which should be your primary source. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to obtain folic acid from vegetables and you are a woman who could get pregnant, it would be highly recommended to add folic acid to your supplement program.
The FDA limits the amount that can be purchased over the counter to 400mcg per tablet. Higher concentrations are available and considered safe by Naturopathic and Holistic doctors.