Why do we need Folate?

Folate (Folic acid) is needed to form blood cells and for the proper development of infants. It is regularly given to pregnant women as a supplement, at 400 mg a day to help prevent birth defects such as Spina Bifida.

Sources of Folic acid

Folic acid is found in offal, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, pulses and fortified breakfast cereals, and also amongst many other types of foods.

What happens if I eat too much?

There are no known toxic effects of having too much.

What happens if I don't eat enough?

To little folic acid can lead to a type of anaemia and can cause high levels of homocysteine, which is connected to coronary heart disease 12% of UK men and 47% of UK women have too little folate.

How much should I have?

A child aged between 11-14 should have 0.2 mg (200µg) per day. This is the same for any age group, but doubles in pregnancy.