Real Weddings: Keelin and Darren tie the knot overlooking Dingle Bay
Real Weddings: Keelin and Darren tie the knot overlooking Dingle Bay

Shayna Sappington

Let me tell you why a mother is the perfect employee
Let me tell you why a mother is the perfect employee

Dominique McMullan

I broke up with my boyfriend and now I have bangs
I broke up with my boyfriend and now I have bangs

Edaein OConnell

WIN a family pass to Emerald Park this Easter
WIN a family pass to Emerald Park this Easter

Shayna Sappington

This peaceful Victorian-era Galway home is on the market for €1.65 million
This peaceful Victorian-era Galway home is on the market for €1.65 million

Sarah Finnan

How to recreate 90s skinny brows without plucking out your eyebrows
How to recreate 90s skinny brows without plucking out your eyebrows

Holly O'Neill

A definitive guide to the very best Irish-made Easter eggs
A definitive guide to the very best Irish-made Easter eggs

Sarah Gill

Supper Club: Peanut soba noodle salad
Supper Club: Peanut soba noodle salad

Meg Walker

18 interiors finds under €50 to refresh your home this spring
18 interiors finds under €50 to refresh your home this spring

Megan Burns

This Co Meath self-build blends with its rural surroundings, and has a clean and modern interior
This Co Meath self-build blends with its rural surroundings, and has a clean and modern...

Megan Burns

Image / Editorial
Sponsored

Why folic acid is not just for mums-to-be

Sponsored By

By IMAGE
02nd Aug 2020
Sponsored By
Why folic acid is not just for mums-to-be

We often associate folic acid with pregnant women, but did you know that all women should be taking folic acid, even if they’re not planning a baby?


There are some things we just associate with being pregnant: maternity wear, food cravings and folic acid.

While we admit, maternity leggings may have crossed our minds during lockdown – working from home can be uncomfortable – our food cravings can probably be put down to gluttony, which we are also blaming lockdown on.

But folic acid? That’s just for pregnant women, right?

Wrong, says SafeFood, the public body responsible for raising consumer awareness of issues relating to food safety and healthy eating in Ireland.

According to SafeFood, almost half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so it is essential for any woman who is sexually active to be taking folic acid.

Folic acid is a vitamin that is essential for everyone’s health, and one that women need an extra amount of during early pregnancy. It is a B vitamin called vitamin B9. Folic acid isn’t stored in the body, so you need to take it every day.

Why do I need folic acid?

According to SafeFood, folic acid tablets can help prevent certain birth defects involving the brain and spinal cord, known as neural tube defects (NTDs).

Spina bifida is one of the most common NTDs which affects about one in every 1,000 children born every year in Ireland. Spina bifida causes incomplete development of the spinal cord in the womb.

According to clonfolic.ie, studies have shown that over 70% of first-time NTDs, such as spina bifida, can be prevented by taking 0.4mg of folic acid daily.

How do I take folic acid?

Folic acid works best if you take it before and during early pregnancy. It should be taken at least three months before getting pregnant to help reduce the risk of NTDs. If you are already pregnant, it is recommended that you start taking folic acid tablets straight away and continue each day up to three months into your pregnancy.

It’s best to take folic acid as an individual supplement, according to SafeFood, because that ensures you get the right dose of 0.4mg a day.

The market leader in folic acid tablets in Ireland is Clonfolic, which are only available from your local pharmacy.

Clonfolic comes in 28 (1 month) and 98 (3 months) calendar-pack sizes. The company recommends 0.4 mg of folic acid every day for at least 14 weeks before you become pregnant and continue taking it for at least the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.


For more information Clonfolic folic acid tablets, see clonfolic.ie.

For more information on folic acid facts and myths, see SafeFood.eu. 

Always read the label. Consult your doctor if you have a family or personal history of pregnancies resulting in neural tube defects, have diabetes, are obese, or take anti-epileptic (anti-seizure), or other medications. The tablet also includes lactose monohydrate. Keep out of sight and reach of children.


Main photo: Ignacio Campo, Unsplash