It is an indisputable fact that as we age, our body functions gradually decline. Especially for women, the arrival of menopause often brings with it a series of physical changes and challenges.
At this stage, how to maintain health through reasonable nutrition supplementation has become a topic that cannot be ignored.
Folic acid, a nutrient we are familiar with during pregnancy, also plays an important role in our daily lives.
So, for a 52-year-old woman, what are the effects of taking one tablet of folic acid every day on the body in the long run?
1. The importance of folic acid
Folic acid, the name may sound a bit raw, but it has an irreplaceable role in our bodies. As a B vitamin, folic acid is not only involved in the body's metabolism, but also directly related to the growth and replication of cells, especially in the heart development of the embryo.
Not that I said you didn't know, but the research of the bigwigs published in the journal Biology has discovered the importance of folic acid in the early development of the heart in the embryo.
Fudan pediatric studies in China also tell us that folic acid supplementation for pregnant women can effectively reduce the risk of congenital heart disease in their children. It can be seen that folic acid is not only a good helper for pregnant women, but also extremely important for everyone's health.
2. The prevalence of folic acid deficiency and its risks
You may not believe that in our country, 60% of people have folic acid deficiency. That's not a small number, and it's a number that researchers have come up with.
There are many reasons for this, but one of the most important reasons is our eating habits.
You see, we Chinese love to eat stir-fried vegetables, and when the heat is big, the small thing of folic acid is easy to be fried. Therefore, even if you eat vegetables every day, your folic acid intake may not be up to standard.
What happens to folic acid deficiency? This is not to scare you, without it, people are prone to low mood, memory loss, and always feel that they have no bottom in their hearts.
More severe, it may lead to abnormal growth and development, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal malabsorption and a whole host of other problems.
Especially for middle-aged and elderly people, folic acid deficiency may also accelerate mental deterioration and make dementia knock on the door early. These are not alarmists, they are all verified by those scientific researchers through experimental data.
3. Physical changes in folic acid supplementation in 52-year-old women
Before discussing the benefits of folic acid, we must first understand one question: what exactly is folic acid?
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, especially during cell division and proliferation.
Once folic acid is deficient, these basic biological processes are affected, leading to various health problems. So, what changes will long-term folic acid supplementation bring to the body?
Let's look at a concrete example. A 52-year-old woman went to the hospital for a check-up due to long-term tiredness and dizziness. The results showed that she had mild anemia and her blood pressure was also slightly high.
The doctor prescribed her folic acid. At first, she may be as skeptical as many people about this seemingly mundane vitamin, but she decided to give it a try.
As it turned out, the decision was wise. After a few months, she noticed that her fatigue had lessened and her dizziness had improved. What's more, her blood tests showed that her haemoglobin levels had increased and her blood pressure had returned to the normal range.
This finding is not an isolated case. In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers observed that folic acid supplementation appeared to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with high blood pressure.
In another study in menopausal women, folic acid supplementation was found to alleviate some symptoms caused by decreased estrogen levels, such as palpitation and fatigue. These findings provide a scientific basis for the benefits of folic acid.
Fourth, the need for folic acid in different groups of people
Folic acid is not only a nutrient that pregnant women need to supplement. In fact, different groups of people have different needs for folic acid. For example, menopausal women may experience a variety of physical and emotional fluctuations due to changes in hormone levels. Folic acid can help them alleviate mood swings and improve sleep quality during this period, while maintaining normal cardiovascular function.
Patients with cardiovascular disease can also benefit from folic acid supplementation. Studies have shown that increasing folic acid intake can reduce the amount of homocysteine in the blood, and elevated levels of this amino acid are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, the antioxidant properties of folic acid also help reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis.
For people with depression, folic acid is equally important. Studies have shown that folic acid supplementation may contribute to the effectiveness of antidepressants, especially in those with low folate levels. For women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant, the importance of folic acid is self-evident, as it can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus.
5. How to properly supplement folic acid
In the world of folic acid, not all folic acid is the same. There are a wide variety of folic acid products on the market, ranging from simple folic acid supplements to multivitamin and mineral compounds.
For the average consumer, this is truly dazzling. However, it is not difficult to choose the right folic acid product for you.
The first thing is to understand your physical condition. The average adult recommends a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid, but for pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant, this figure rises to 600 to 800 mcg.
If you have a specific health condition, such as cardiovascular disease, or if you are depressed, then you may need more folic acid. In this case, it is essential to discuss with your doctor to develop a supplement plan that works for you.
When supplementing with folic acid, it is also important to pay attention to the form of folic acid. There are usually two forms of folic acid available in the market: synthetic folic acid and natural folic acid.
Synthetic folate is generally more absorbed, however, some people may lack enzymes in their bodies to convert synthetic folate into a form that the body can use. In this case, it may be better to opt for methylfolate, an already active form of folic acid.
conclusion
In summary, folic acid supplementation has a positive effect on the physical health of a 52-year-old woman.
However, we also want to emphasize that folic acid supplementation is not a panacea, and it cannot solve all health problems.
Eating a proper diet, living a regular routine, and exercising in moderation are all important factors in maintaining good health.
Folic acid supplementation is just one part of a healthy lifestyle.