Folic Acid Foods List

If you are searching for foods with folic acid in then this is the right page for you. Not only do we have a free folic acid foods list but we also provide an explanation as to what folic acid is and also highlight the many folic acid benefits that can be obtained from consuming this vitamin on a regular basis.

What is folic acid?

First of all we are going to answer the question 'what is folic acid?' as this is something that not everybody knows. It is one thing being told that you need to up your folic acid intake but quite another to understand what folic acid actually is. Folic acid, or vitamin B9 as it is otherwise known, is a 'B' vitamin that our bodies need in order to create healthy new cells, it is essential for the formation of both red and white blood cells in the bone marrow. Folic acid is sometimes also referred to as 'folate'. Folate is the natural form of folic acid and it is found naturally in certain foods. Folic acid is the man-made, or processed version of folate.

Just like with all of the other essential vitamins and minerals, our body can suffer if it is not able to absorb a sufficient amount. The folic acid foods list that we have on this page along with folic acid supplements are the best way for you to make sure that your folic acid levels are always topped up.

Folic acid benefits

In this next section we are going to cover what folic acid benefits are, so what can actually be obtained by consuming folic acid rich foods and/or folic acid supplements. As you will see folic acid is more important to some people than others although we do all need it.

  • One of the main benefits of folic acid is to women before and during pregnancy as by making sure they have enough folic acid can prevent there being major birth defects.
  • Folic acid benefits include keeping your blood healthy, without a sufficient amount it is possible to develop anemia. For more information on the medical condition anemia click here.
  • Folic acid helps our bodies to create new and healthy cells

A pregnant woman should be consuming between 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid every single day. If you are taking a supplement this will clearly say how much each pill contains, however if you are eating foods with folic acid in then check the nutritional information on the label as this will tell you how much folic acid that food contains. Our next section has a folic acids foods list and will show you which foods to look out for if you are interested in ensuring you get enough and get all of the benefits of folic acid.

Folic acid foods list

Now we come to the main section of the page, the folic acid foods list. Here we show you all of the folic acid rich foods that you can consume in order to keep your folic acid levels topped up without the need for supplements. As you will see many of the foods with folic acid in on this list are everyday things that you may already eat to a degree. If this is the case then that is great because it means that the likelihood that you get a sufficient amount of folic acid is quite high. The best way to check how much folic acid you are getting each day is to read the nutritional information on the labels of the foods that you eat because this will tell you how many micrograms of folic acid the food contains.

Breakfast cereals

If you are one of the many people that starts off their day without eating breakfast then you should change your routine. There are many reasons why eating breakfast everyday is good for you, such as helping to boost your metabolism, but also it is because many breakfast cereals contain folic acid. Almost all of the cereals you will find on shop shelves will contain folic acid, remember to check on the label for this and for how much they contain.

  • All-Bran cereals
  • Muesli
  • Rice crispies
  • Quaker Oat cereals
  • General Mills cereals
  • Kellogg's cereals

Bread

Bread is a part of almost everybody's diet and it may be re-assuring to know that bread is one of our folic acid foods. Whole wheat brown bread has more folic acid in it than white bread and it also has higher amounts of other vitamins and minerals in as well, such as vitamins B6 and E and also magnesium and zinc. You will also find folic acid in enriched breads. Bread is a great source of folic acid and you will find that a slice of granary bread contains approximately 35 micrograms of folic acid, a slice of wholemeal bread contains approximately 15 micrograms of folic acid and there is a approximately 11 micrograms of folic acid in a slice of white bread, making bread an important folic acid food.

White rice

White rice is another popular food containing folic acid. Whether you are cooking at home or eating out, there are always a wide range of rice dishes that are easy to make or available to you. In a one cup serving of white long grain rice enriched with salt there is 126 micrograms of folic acid. Not only does rice taste great but it can also provide you with folic acid benefits, on top of being a good source of dietary fiber, protein and manganese.

Other folic acid foods:

  • Dried beans
  • Grains
  • Oranges and orange juice
  • Avocados
  • Spinach
  • Cabbage
  • Nuts
  • Peanut butter
  • Cantaloupe
  • Broccoli
  • Pasta
  • Flour

As you can see there are plenty of foods that contain folic acid for you to choose from if you think that you may be lacking in this vitamin. As we will explain below it is going to be more beneficial to you to not only eat folic acid foods on a regular basis but to use a vitamin supplement that contains it as well.

Alternatives to folic acid rich foods

As we have already mentioned on this page there are more ways to get the relevant amount of folic acid into your body than just by eating folic acid rich foods. You can buy folic acid supplements in pill form from almost any supermarket and pharmacy where you live as well as being able to buy them online too.

The human body does not use folate (the natural form of folic acid) as effectively as the human made folic acid version. This means that it is advised that people who need folic acid, most notably woman before and during pregnancy, should not only eat foods high in folic acid but they should also take a vitamin supplement with folic acid in as well, it is better to be safe than sorry.

More than foods with folic acid in

There is much more to our site than just information on foods with folic acid in. As well as our folic acid foods list we also have lists of foods that are high in all of the other essential vitamins and minerals as well. Please take the time to look around the site while you are here as you may find this information useful. Just like folic acid our bodies need a regular amount of all of the essential vitamins and minerals, you are going to find a wide range of foods on this site than can help your daily diet obtain all that you need to stay healthy. We hope that you now also have a better understanding of not only what folic acid is but also what folic acid benefits are as well.


Disclaimer: The text on these pages is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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