Importance of Folic Acid

Folic acid helps prevent birth defects that involve the brain and spinal cord. If you are planning to become pregnant, the March of Dimes recommends that you take a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid every day. Once you're pregnant, it's important to continue taking folic acid at least through your early pregnancy. You should also make sure that your diet includes foods rich in folate (the natural form of folic acid): fortified cereals, beans, leafy green vegetables and orange juice.