The body doesn't store supplies of folic acid. We need to have it every day
for optimum health.

Folic acid supplements are essential in pregnancy, they have a strong
positive effect on pregnancy outcome. They reduce the risk of spina bifida
from say 1/400 to 1/800 Take 0.5mg per day. If there is a family history of
spina bifida, take 5mg . Check with your doctor for local recommendations.
Many foods are rich in folic acid, especially paleoffods. They are found in
foliage (hence the name FOLIc acid), fruits etc. I have a list on the work
computer- I'll try to post it tomorrow as "Folic acid". Supplements of folic
acid don't hurt- any excess simply goes down the toilet, cf deficiency
increases the risk of spina bifida. Rapidly growing tissues love folic acid,
and good general nutrition.
Folic acid is a powerful antioxidant vitamin and helps prevent heart
disease.
Cooking and processing probably reduce our intake even if we are paleo, so a
little supplement of folic acid is fine.  Most obstetricians in the world
would recommend it.
Ben Balzer

----- Original Message -----
From: Cecilia Moen <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 10:14 PM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Pregnant Wife


> >I now have two other questions.  Alicia is taking non-allergenic,
> pre-natal
> >vitamins.  Is this necessary/healthy?  Also, I understand that folic
> acid is
> >very important...what foods are rich in folic acid?
>
>
> I have always read that the first trimester one should avoid
> supplementation unless directly recommended so by a health
> practitioner.
>
> That said there is a non-profit organisation in Great Britain called
> Foresight. They have helped hundreds of couples get healthy children
> after years of miscarriage etc. Their website is still a little thin,
> but you might find it interesting.
>
> http://www.surreyweb.org.uk/foresight/leaflets.html
>
> A quote from them: "the latest U.K. statistics reveal that, out of
> every 100 live births, six babies are now born either with 'minor' or
> 1major' physical malformations. Furthermore, one in four babies are
> now born with some degree of learning disability and/or mental
> deficiency"
>
> Anyway there is some interesting stuff about the importance of zinc
> (among other things). Note that they recommend meat as an important
> source, and that dairy inhibits intake of zinc.
>
> Cecilia in Sweden