Folic Acid

It is difficult to conceive of a nutrient of greater importance than folic acid. It is involved either directly or indirectly in virtually every chemical reaction occurring within the body. That is because folic acid controls the very basis of human existence: the growth of cells. All cells depend upon this vitamin for their growth and regeneration. Thus, there is no life without folic acid.

Folic acid deficiency is alarmingly common in the USA, with all age groups being adversely affected. Perhaps of greatest concern are the results of recent scientific studies indicating that as many as 90% of teenagers are consuming less than the RDA of folic acid in their diets. Certain high risk groups, particularly blacks, fare even worse. For instance, an article in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association revealed that nearly 100% of black youths in certain schools in Mississippi received less than one=half the RDA for this crucial nutrient. Add to this the fact that many teenagers maintain habits that cause the destruction of folic acid, and it is easy to comprehend why this deficiency is so widespread and how tissue levels of the vitamin may become dangerously low. Agents which deplete and/or destroy folic acid include alcohol (as little as one drink per day may severely reduce tissue folic acid levels), cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco, stress, antibiotics, aspirin, marijuana, and hard drugs.

The term folic acid was originally derived from the Latin word folium, which is also the basis of the English term foliage. Thus, the origin of the word folic acid was due to the fact that this nutrient is commonly found in green edible plants. Actually, it was first isolated from spinach. Research in the 1940’s determined that folic acid helped cure two serious diseases: megaloblastic anemia of pregnancy and malabsorptive syndrome (tropical sprue).

Researchers have discovered that folic acid can be utilized as a potent therapy for a variety of degenerative diseases. These disease include arthritis, cancer (particularly pre=cancerous lesions), alcoholism, anemia, anxiety, depression, pyorrhea, PMS, gout, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, heart disease, macular degeneration, cataracts, and atherosclerosis. One notable study was performed to test the ability of folic acid to reverse arterial disease in the elderly. Subjects were given 5.0 to 7.5 mg of folic acid daily. As a result over 90% exhibited improved circulation, plus there was an unexpected benefit: enhance vision. this was attributed to the localized improvement in circulation within the blood vessels of the eyes. In other words, folic acid helped reverse the aging induced arterial degeneration which typically occurs within the tiny capillaries that feed the retina. Other studies document how mega doses of folic acid can reverse pre-cancerous lesions of the oral mucosa, lungs, intestines, and uterine cervix.

Top sources of folic acid include organ meats, yeast, chicken, soybeans, rice bran, dark green leafy vegetables, lean beef, veal, eggs, and whole grains. Organically grown foods, contain a greater concentration of folates than those grown by commercial farming methods. Pesticides and herbicides destroy folic acid, as do fumigants, which are used to spray fresh produce. Additionally, folic acid is highly sensitive to light, and prolonged storage of food under fluorescent light may lead to a dramatic decline in folate levels. cooking also destroys this vitamin, and as much as 95% may be lost during the preparation of food. The signs are easy to read: Americans are not getting enough folic acid to maintain optimal health, and some individuals are getting so little as to predispose them to a variety of potentially serious diseases.

Which of these apply to you?

1. hangnails

2. chronic diarrhea

3. chronic constipation

4. delayed wound healing

5. muscle cramps

6. lack of appetite

7. heartburn and/or indigestion

8. inflammation and/or soreness of the tongue

9. cracks at the corners of the mouth

10. lips which are constantly chapped

11. breathing difficulties

12. insomnia

13. chronic fatigue

14. muscular weakness

15. paranoia

16. depression

17. memory loss

18. growth impairment

19. dry and/or brittle hair

20. slow growing nails and/or hair

21. mouth sores (canker sores)

22. chronic cough (especially smoker’s cough)

23. diminished resistance to infection

24. receding and/or bleeding gums

25. chronic gum infections (pyorrhea)

26. Do you eat most of your food canned, cooked, boiled, or fried?

27. Do you have a history of intestinal parasitic and/or fungal infection?

28. Do you have celiac disease and/or wheat allergy?

29. Do you have a history of abnormal pap smears, cervical dysplasia, and/or cervical cancer?

30. Do you have a history of chronic anemia unresponsive to iron or B-12 therapy?

31. Do you have chronic mental illness such as psychosis, anxiety-depression, mania, or schizophrenia?

32. Have you had one or more children with birth defects (spina bifida, etc.)?

33. Do you drink one or more alcoholic beverages daily?

34. Do you smoke cigarettes heavily (one-third pack or more per day), or have you smoked heavily in the past for over five years?

35. Do you use chewing tobacco?

36. Do you smoke cigars or pipes?

37. Do you regularly take birth control pills?

38. Do you take antibiotics on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis?

39. Do you take Dilantin?

40. Do you consume antacids on a daily or weekly basis?

41. Do you take Tagamet or Zantac on a daily or weekly basis?

42. Do you take one or more aspirin daily?

43. Are you on the drug Methotrexate and/or are you under going chemotherapy?

44. Are you undergoing radiation therapy or have you under gone such therapy recently?

45. Do you have gout?

46. Have you been diagnosed as having reduced protein (globulin, creatinine, or BUN) or low uric acid levels in your blood?

Your Score ______

1 to 9 points Mild folic acid deficiency: Folic acid is such a crucial nutrient that the functioning of the human body is impaired even in mild deficiency states. To correct the condition, take a t least 400 mcg of folic acid daily and increase the consumption of folic acid-rich foods.

10 to 19 points Moderate folic acid deficiency: Take a B-complex tablet in addition to 5 mg of folic acid. Eat dark green leafy vegetables on a regular basis. Fresh meats are also an excellent source of folic acid, and to achieve optimal benefits, eat red meat medium rare. Be sure to consume the juices of the meat; this is where most of the folic acid is found. Other excellent sources include brown rice and dark green leafy vegetables. Avoid refined sugar, alcohol, white flour, and caffeine, all of which deplete or destroy folic acid.

20 to 29 points Severe folic acid deficiency: Symptoms of folic acid deficiency rapidly dissipate once cellular levels are replenished. Treat this conditions aggressively by taking 10 mg of folic acid daily. Follow the aforementioned dietary advice; in addition, avoid all drugs which destroy folic acid, particularly aspirin. Try the Folic Acid Shake (see the recipe section).

30 and above Extreme folic acid deficiency: Warning- damage to internal organs may occur as a result of prolonged severe folic acid deficiency. Additionally, extreme folic acid deficiency significantly increases the risk for certain types of cancer, notably cervical, colon, and lung cancer. Take 20 mg of folic acid daily. If you scored above 37, take 30 mg daily absolutely no alcohol. Eliminate refined sugars, white rice, caffeine, and white flour from the diet. Note: Dosages of 5 mg and above require a prescription from your doctor.