folic acid Deficiency: what you should know

​According to Healthline, folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin used in different supplements and foods that have been fortified. The naturally occurring form is called folate, while the synthetic form of this is called folic acid. This vitamin exits the body quickly and needs to be replenished daily, especially if you take medications that deplete this vitamin from the body. Your body converts the folic acid back to the active form of folate for your body to use, but some people have a genetic inability to activate this nutrient when it is consumed. This issue causes high homocysteine levels in the body, which is not ideal for your overall health and wellness. Folate also plays a vital role in cardiovascular disease. Folate, Coenzyme Q10, and many other B vitamins protect your heart; if you run out of these nutrients, your heart struggles.
 
Blood tests allow you to see your current levels - you want them below seven micromoles per liter of blood. Levels above thirteen give way to high-risk circumstances for heart attack, stroke, inflammation, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, autoimmune disorders, pain, cervical and uterine, and cancer. (*confirmed by a 2009 study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention)
 
Folate is necessary for the body's detoxification process, which is referred to as methylation. The methylation process involves deactivating and clearing toxins from the body. Low folate levels mean more toxins in the body. DNA methylations slow down about 1700 cancer-promoting genes. Your body must methylate, but some are not able to because of their genetic makeup. These people need extra folate in the 5-TMHF form, which is available at our pharmacy.
Here are some great sources of this nutrient: 

• Romaine lettuce
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Beets (boiled)
• Lentils
• Pinto beans
• Black beans
• Chickpeas
• Summer squash
• Papaya
• Lima beans
• Strawberries
• Flaxseed

*make sure these are cooked in a healthy way, of course.
 
Folate deficiency can also cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), depression, irritability, pale skin, megaloblastic anemia, low energy, confusion, forgetfulness, and diarrhea. Folate also plays an essential role in cardiovascular disease. Folate, Coenzyme Q10, and many other B vitamins protect your heart. Suppose you run out of these nutrients, your heart will struggle. Freedom Pharmacy puts unique stickers on the bottles of medications, indicating the need for supplementation. We know the importance of correcting drug-induced nutrient depletions to keep disease states from getting worse or others from occurring. 
Medications that can deplete this nutrient: 

• Acid Blockers
• Analgesics (pain medications)
• Antacids
• Antibiotics
• Anticonvulsants
• Anti-Inflammatory drugs
• Antimetabolites (Methotrexate)
• Antivirals, Barbiturates
• Blood Pressure Drugs
• Cholesterol Agents
• Corticosteroids
• Diabetes Medications
• Hormone Replacement Therapy & Birth Control Pills
• Muscle relaxant (Soma)
• Drugs used for breast cancer (Aromatase inhibitors and estrogen receptor modulators)
• Aspirin
• SSRI Antidepressants
• Alcohol
• Estrogen Dominance (from foods and environmental factors)