Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia

What is Folic Acid Deficiency?

Someone who has a deficiency might also be referred to as having a folate deficiency. This term means that they have low levels of folic acid within the body. It develops from low levels to a deficiency when they don’t have enough folic acid. Usually, you can remedy this problem by eating food with folic acid in it. Also, there is the option to take supplements. Taking supplements ensures that you don’t get folic acid deficiency anemia, but you have to remember to continue to take them every day.

Which Foods Have Folic Acid within Them?

When you speak with your doctor about getting your daily recommended amount of folic acid, he will most likely recommend that you eat anything on this list:

  • Peas
  • Broccoli
  • Green beans
  • Leafy green vegetables (including spinach, kale, and cabbage)
  • Chickpeas
  • Brown rice
  • Potatoes
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Kidney beans
  • Fortified cereals

In addition to these vegetables, you can also eat bananas, fortified cereal, bread, and oranges. When you eat a single bowl of fortified cereal, it will provide you with the daily necessary intake of folic acid. Nevertheless, most medical experts recommend that you take extra folic acid while pregnant because doing so will provide the vital nutrients to the child as well. For a woman who isn’t pregnant, the recommended dosage is 400 mcg per day. Pregnant women, on the other hand, need 600 mcg per day. Meanwhile, women who breastfeed need to take 500 mcg per day.

Risks to the Child

There are a few dangers that come with a folic acid deficiency. Infants with a deficiency of folic acid will have a heightened risk for different medical complications, such as low birth weight, brain damage, stillbirth, spina bifida, peripheral neuropathy, and mental confusion. If your child was born with any of these disorders, you might be entitled to financial support. Any child with a deficiency of folic acid should receive a careful examination from a doctor to ensure that they get the treatment they need and avoid any complications.

Along with possibly endangering a child to be afflicted with a birth disorder, a deficiency can threaten your life as well. Also, those who drink a lot of alcohol could risk developing folic acid deficiency anemia. That’s because, over time, your intestines can’t absorb folate as easily. Also, drinking alcohol while pregnant can lead to a host of other birth injuries and problems. While drinking may not cause cerebral palsy, it can cause a host of other problems for the child’s developing brain. It could even lead to a miscarriage or a stillbirth.