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Folic acid

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When we think of grabbing our everyday essentials, our phone, Leap Card and purse usually top the list.

However, there is one other thing you should be taking before you head out for work everyday.

We all know that sometime’s it’s not always the easiest to squeeze in every last vitamin and mineral we need into our bodies through our diets, so taking a supplement or two can definitely help.

There are things like Iron, Vitamin B12 and fish oil capsules who get all the glory, but Folic Acid is another essential for women – even those without child.

Folic acid is a vitamin that is essential for everyone’s health, and women especially need extra during early pregnancy.

It is a B vitamin called vitamin B9, which is important for the development and maintenance of new cells within the body.

Folic acid isn’t stored in the body so you need to take it every day, pregnant or not.

If you are planning on making a baby any time soon, then this is important information, as taking folic acid can help prevent certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord like Spina Bifida.

Up to 70 per cent of these types of defects could be prevented by taking folic acid.

However, even if you are not planning on having a baby, you never know what life has in store, so it could be an idea to start taking it now ahead of time.

According to SafeFood research, up to half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and you may not even realise you’re pregnant in the first few weeks, which is when your baby’s brain and spine are developing.

And if you’re really really not planning on having kids, Folic Acid can still benefit you by assisting in the creation of your red blood cells to provide energy.

There are a number of food sources which contain Folic Acid, but a supplement is the ideal way to bump up your levels. It’s a win win, really.

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Get the facts about folic at http://www.safefood.eu/Folic-Acid

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Most of us have a morning routine.

Some involve a mini heart attack, a frantic search for keys and a mad dash for the door.

Others include an invigorating shower, a leisurely breakfast and a brisk stroll to the Luas.

No matter which camp you fall into, a recent survey suggests you’d certainly be in the minority if your morning routine includes taking a folic acid tablet.

According to research conducted by safefood, 80 per cent of women check their social media as part of their routine while just 25 per cent include folic acid in theirs.

Commenting on the study’s findings, Dr Marian O’Reilly Chief Specialist in Nutrition with safefood said she was pleased by women’s focus on healthy breakfasts and regular dental hygiene, but stressed the importance of including folic acid in the morning routine.

“It’s great to see that over 70 per cent of Irish women report starting their day with a healthy breakfast and 95 per cent brush their teeth every morning. What we want women to do is to take on a new healthy habit – take a daily 400 microgram folic acid supplement – it’s even easier than brushing your teeth and takes only seconds to do.”

“Folic acid prevents most neural tube defects like spina bifida in the first few weeks of pregnancy at a time when most women are unaware they’re pregnant. With 50 per cent of all pregnancies unplanned, taking folic every morning gets you into a healthy habit, even if a baby is the last thing on your mind.”

Urging women to consider including the element in their daily routine, Dr. Aileen McGloin, Communications Manager, Digital and Health at safefood, said: “Almost half the women in our survey said the best way to create a new healthy habit is to be prepared.”

“With folic acid, keep it near your toothbrush, beside your bed or somewhere that will remind you to take it as part of your morning routine,“ she added. “Setting a reminder on your phone or committing to a new habit were also mentioned by women as successful ways to create a new habit.”

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The gym; chores; healthy eating; being a better person: we all have a loooonng list of things that we always mean to get around to doing.

Sometimes we even dabble for a while – though as plenty of folk will attest, starting up good habits is only half the battle… sticking to them is the real challenge. 

Still, there are some great tips and tricks to make an occasional, fleeting fancy into a habit that's second nature…

  • Commit to 30 days: that's how long you need to establish proper sense of discipline and dedication.
  • Make it daily: even skipping the odd day here and there will wreck havoc on your aspirations.
  • Remind yourself why: there are reasons why you want to establish your new habit – remind yourself of those regularly.
  • Get a buddy: have someone you can message and ask, "did you do this/that today? Because I did!"
  • Write it down: set reminders on your phone or write down a 'must do later' message in a diary or on a calendar.

And while the gym can take A LOT of effort and bags of motivation, never mind that eating healthily is a REAL toughie for a whole host of reasons, some important things are rather more straightforward to implement.

Take your daily dose of folic acid for example: it's a cost-efficient supplement that should be a VITAL part of your routine – up there with drinking 2litres of water a day and remembering to ring your mam.

Why? Because if you're having sex, you could get pregnant – and if you do, it's essential that you've been taking folic acid for three months prior to conception, as well as the first three months of pregnancy itself.

Here are a few suggestions for getting your folic acid poa off the ground: 

  • Start by weighing up the costs and benefits: folic acid costs just a few cent a day but has MASSIVE benefits – namely a greatly reduced chance of having a child with spina bifida or another neural tube defect. 
  • Commit to establishing a new routine: it's only one tiny tablet each day. Decide that you are going to do it and remind yourself that for not very much effort, your baby (even if it’s far into the future) can only benefit.

  • Have a specific time to take it: morning with breakfast is often good. You can also set an alarm on your phone.
  • Be prepared: keep your folic acid handy and just pop it in your handbag.
  • Get chatting: don’t be afraid to talk to your friends about taking it. Taking folic acid doesn’t mean that you are planning a baby. It just means that if you do have a baby sometime in the future, you are already helping to protect their health. 

  • Remind yourself how important it is: after a successfully taking folic acid for a fortnight or for a month it might be nice to reward yourself. This could mean buying a magazine, or even a new pair of earrings.

 

The bottom line is: if you are sexually active and there is a chance (no matter how small) that you could become pregnant then you NEED to take folic acid every day. Simple!

You can also find out more here.

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