Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin, which is also known as folic acid because of the discovery history of being the first to be extracted from spinach leaves.
Folic acid is very important for the human body, it is related to a variety of diseases known to human beings, and folic acid is involved in the process of cell reproduction, tissue growth, and body development, and is one of the indispensable trace elements.
Ms. Li, 55, comes from a family with a genetic history of high blood pressure and stroke, and for many years, she has struggled with high blood pressure and taken daily antihypertensive medications.
Despite her focus on diet and exercise, she suffers from symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and memory loss. She was worried that she would suddenly fall under the shadow of a cerebral infarction, just like her father.
One day, Ms. Li saw an article on the Internet saying that folic acid can prevent cardiovascular disease, remove plaque in blood vessels, reduce cysteine in the blood, and reduce the risk of cerebral hemorrhage. She immediately went to the pharmacy and bought a box of folic acid tablets.
Her daily persistence made her a qualitative leap after half a year. During the comprehensive physical examination, Ms. Li was pleasantly surprised to find that her blood pressure had stabilized within the normal range, the cysteine in her blood had dropped significantly, the carotid artery plaque had also been kept to itself, and the speed and perfusion of cerebral blood flow had also improved.
The symptoms that had made her miserable had vanished, and her mental and physical condition had been refreshed. She was very emotional, folic acid actually brought her such vitality. She found the secret to slowing down aging and preventing cerebral infarction.
So, why does folic acid have such miraculous effects?Folic acid lowers blood levels of homocysteine, which can damage the lining of blood vessels and encourage plaque formation and enlargement.
These plaques, like dirt on the lining of blood vessels, narrows blood vessels day by day, affecting blood flow. If the blood vessels in the brain are blocked, the cerebral infarction will come quietly.
Folic acid, on the other hand, binds to homocysteine and converts it into a harmless substance, thereby reducing its level, protecting the lining of blood vessels and stabilizing plaque.
The World Health Organization pointed out that the incidence and mortality rate of stroke in China ranks first in the world, and has become the leading disease causing disability and death in our people.
It is believed that the increase in the incidence of cerebral infarction is related to the deficiency of folic acid in Chinese people. However, does this view hold water?It is undeniable that high blood pressure is one of the important risk factors for cerebral infarction.
In China, there are some hypertensive patients whose blood pressure is accompanied by high homocysteine, which is the so-called H hypertension. Folic acid and other B vitamins play a vital role in the body, and they help the body metabolize homocysteine normally.
Once the level of folic acid in the body is insufficient, the level of homocysteine will rise, which in turn will increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and central nervous system diseases.
Scientific studies have found that a 25% drop in homocysteine levels is associated with an 11% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease and a 19% reduction in the risk of stroke.
For patients with type H hypertension, appropriate folic acid supplementation does help reduce the risk of cerebral infarction. However, not all patients with hypertension have an elevated homocysteine, so folic acid supplementation is not effective for all patients with hypertension.
When you are not sure what type of high blood pressure you have, you should seek the advice of a medical professional and never blindly supplement with folic acid. After all, when it comes to health issues, science and prudence are always wise.
A lack of folic acid in the body can lead to a range of symptoms that can have an impact on multiple systems in the body. The most common of these are digestive symptoms such as loss of appetite, bloating, diarrhea, etc.
In addition, a lack of folic acid can also lead to anemia, as folic acid is essential for the production of red blood cells. Common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, etc.
In addition to digestive and blood symptoms, a deficiency of folic acid can lead to abnormalities in the nervous system. For example, folate deficiency may lead to mood disorders, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and other problems.
In addition, a lack of folic acid may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, as low levels of folate are linked to atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
Therefore, it is very important to understand the role of folic acid and how to supplement it. Foods rich in folic acid include green vegetables, orange fruits, and legumes, among others.
It is recommended to consume enough folic acid every day, which is very important for maintaining the health of the body. If you suspect you are deficient in folic acid, you can consult your doctor for testing and evaluation.
It is important to note that although folic acid is very important for the health of the body, excessive intake of folic acid may also cause negative effects on the body. Therefore, it is advisable to consume a moderate amount of folic acid according to your doctor's recommendations.
1. Women who are in the stage of trying to conceive or are already pregnant: Folic acid is an essential nutrient for the normal development of the fetus. Folic acid deficiency may lead to fetal neural tube defects, so pregnant women should make sure they consume enough folic acid to reduce this risk.
2. Middle-aged and elderly people: With age, the body's ability to absorb folic acid gradually declines, therefore, middle-aged and elderly people should pay special attention to folic acid intake to maintain good health.
3. People who have long-term digestive tract diseases: Due to poor folic acid absorption, special attention should also be paid to folic acid supplementation. At the same time, alcoholics and people who take certain medications for a long time also need additional folic acid supplementation due to greater folate losses.
4. Malnutrition or partial eaters: These people often struggle to get enough folic acid through their daily diet, so they need to pay extra attention to folic acid intake.