Todd Moody wrote: >I have read that it is hard to get >adequate folate even from "fresh" foods because they are not >usually all that fresh, and cooking them reduces the content even >further. This is why it is recommended that pregnant women take >folate supplements now, no matter what they are eating. No. The recommendation is made as low folic acid during pregnancy was found to be a cause of spina bifida. Low folic acid is a common deficiency of undiagnosed celiac disease. With an incidence in the US of celiac disease of 1:250 or greater, and 95% undiagnosed, these cases alone can account for all cases of spina bifida. Do remember that the medical community likes to prescribe treatments, and not look for the underlying cause. Don.