Why my family avoids synthetic folic acid and what to do instead!!! 👇
1. Up to 40-50% of people have the MTHFR gene variant, which means your body can't properly convert synthetic folic acid.
2. Some research suggests unmetabolized synthetic folic acid in pregnant women may be linked to midline issues in babies like tongue ties.
3. Synthetic folic acid is made in chemical labs. It does not exist in nature. If we can, we try to avoid it as much as possible. This is more of a philosophical choice.
4. When you can't process it, it builds up in your bloodstream and the long term effects of that aren't fully understood yet.
5. Natural folate (the real form found in leafy greens, liver, eggs) is completely different. Your body knows exactly what to do with it.
6. Real folate is ready to use the second it enters your body. Synthetic folic acid has to be converted first.
REMEMBER. I am NOT saying to not eat folate/folic acid. I'm saying know the difference and choose which you want. The synthetic or real.
YOU NEED folate. It's EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for all stages of life, especially for pregnant women. If you CAN'T find good sources of natural folate or methylated folate in supplements, it's okay to eat folic acid (unless you have the gene mutation we talked about earlier).
Lastly, I'm not here to fearmonger, full transparency is best, so here's reasons why you might NOT need to worry about folic acid:
1. Folic acid fortification is one of the most well-documented public health wins in history. When the FDA mandated it in 1998, neural tube defects like spina bifida dropped by up to 35%.
2. If you don't have the MTHFR variant, your body converts synthetic folic acid just fine. No buildup, no issue.
3. If you already eat a nutrient-rich whole food diet with plenty of leafy greens, eggs, and liver, you're likely getting enough natural folate anyway. Making the synthetic version in your pasta pretty irrelevant.
4. The fortification mandate was designed for a population with serious folate deficiency and poor diets. If that's not you, your risk profile looks very different.
Know your body, know your diet, and make the choice that's right for you. If you want to get tested for the MTHFR gene mutation, consider ordering a test kit or
see a professional!
Remember, none of this is medical advice. Do your own research and consult a medical professional, or functional health provider, as they are more willing to test for things like MTHFR.
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So, are you going to explain why folic acid is “bad”?
Why my family avoids synthetic folic acid and what to do instead!!! 👇
1. Up to 40-50% of people have the MTHFR gene variant, which means your body can't properly convert synthetic folic acid.
2. Some research suggests unmetabolized synthetic folic acid in pregnant women may be linked to midline issues in babies like tongue ties.
3. Synthetic folic acid is made in chemical labs. It does not exist in nature. If we can, we try to avoid it as much as possible. This is more of a philosophical choice.
4. When you can't process it, it builds up in your bloodstream and the long term effects of that aren't fully understood yet.
5. Natural folate (the real form found in leafy greens, liver, eggs) is completely different. Your body knows exactly what to do with it.
6. Real folate is ready to use the second it enters your body. Synthetic folic acid has to be converted first.
REMEMBER. I am NOT saying to not eat folate/folic acid. I'm saying know the difference and choose which you want. The synthetic or real.
YOU NEED folate. It's EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for all stages of life, especially for pregnant women. If you CAN'T find good sources of natural folate or methylated folate in supplements, it's okay to eat folic acid (unless you have the gene mutation we talked about earlier).
Lastly, I'm not here to fearmonger, full transparency is best, so here's
reasons why you might NOT need to worry about folic acid:
1. Folic acid fortification is one of the most well-documented public health wins in history. When the FDA mandated it in 1998, neural tube defects like spina bifida dropped by up to 35%.
2. If you don't have the MTHFR variant, your body converts synthetic folic acid just fine. No buildup, no issue.
3. If you already eat a nutrient-rich whole food diet with plenty of leafy greens, eggs, and liver, you're likely getting enough natural folate anyway. Making the synthetic version in your pasta pretty irrelevant.
4. The fortification mandate was designed for a population with serious folate deficiency and poor diets. If that's not you, your risk profile looks very different.
Know your body, know your diet, and make the choice that's right for you. If you want to get tested for the MTHFR gene mutation, consider ordering a test kit or
see a professional!
Remember, none of this is medical advice. Do your own research and consult a medical professional, or functional health provider, as they are more willing to test for things like MTHFR.