Prevention of Spina Bifida

Since there is not an exact known cause for SB many researchers suggest that increasing your intake of folic acid AT LEAST one month prior to conception can decrease your risk of having a child with SB or other neural tube defects. It is alos recommended to have enough folic acid during the early weeks of pregnancy. Since many women do not found out have a pregnancy until around 8 weeks or more after conception, making sure you get enough folic acid (400mcg) during your child bearing years is essential.

Besides taking a multivitamin or a vitamin specifically for folic acid, there are many food that are rich in it. Here is a quick list:

• - Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, romaine lettuce)
• - Asparagus
• - Broccoli
• - Citrus Fruits (grapefruit, oranges, papaya)
• - Beans (garbanzo, black, green)
• - Avocado
• - Okra
• - Brussel sprouts
• - Seeds and nuts (sunflower, peanuts, flax)
• - Cauliflower
• - Squash

For more infomation on what foods are high in folic acid, please check out the Global Healing Center.