Tag: Birth defects prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting 400 micrograms of folic acid daily helps prevent serious birth defects. This synthetic B vitamin is essential for numerous bodily functions, from cellular growth to DNA synthesis, making the question of why we need to eat folic acid a critical one for overall health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since the mandatory fortification of grain products began in the U.S. in 1998, there has been a significant reduction in neural tube defects. This success highlights the crucial role that folic acid deficiency plays in the development of neural tube conditions like spina bifida, which form within the first month of pregnancy.

According to the March of Dimes, taking folic acid daily before and during early pregnancy can help reduce the risk of certain birth defects of the brain and spine by about 70%. This critical fact underscores the importance of knowing exactly **what foods prevent birth defects** and incorporating them into your prenatal diet for optimal fetal development.

Neural tube defects occur within the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Understanding **what foods prevent neural tube defects** by providing adequate folic acid is therefore crucial for all women of childbearing age.