Easy Ways to Incorporate More Folic Acid Into Your Diet

When you think of the necessary vitamins and minerals that you should be getting from the foods that you eat, folic acid likely isn’t one of the first things that come to mind. It is a very important element in everyone’s diet, however, especially women who are pregnant and those who are susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some of the best ways to incorporate more folic acid into your diet.

  1. Broccoli. You already know that you should eat your vegetables to get the proper nutrients, but broccoli contains a great deal of folic acid as well. Just half of a cup of broccoli contains 52 micrograms of folic acid, which equals approximately 13% of the average person’s recommended daily value. Steaming broccoli or eating it raw is one of the healthiest ways to consume this veggie, but you can also add it to salads or stir fries for a more flavorful taste.
  2. Sunflower seeds. These tiny, toasted snacks are not only tasty, they’re also a very impressive source of folic acid. Just one ounce of sunflower seeds provide 20% of your recommended daily intake, and they also provide Vitamin E, beneficial fats, and other essential nutrients.

Surprising Sources of Folic Acid [Yahoo! Shine]
Foods High in Folic Acid [Prenatal Vitamin HQ]
15 Foods High in Folic Acid [Global Healing Center]
18 Foods High in Folic Acid to Prevent Cancer & Birth Defects [Bembu]

4 Reasons to Shop Local

One of the top trends in eating recently has been the profusion of farmers' markets and CSAs. These innovative ways to shop for fruits and veggies make it much easier to buy directly from local farms. Here are some of the benefits:

Support the community
You can support local farmers by buying the veggies they grow!

Know the source
Farmers markets make it easy to meet the people who grow your food. Some farms even encourage those who buy CSA shares to come visit the farm.

Fewer food miles
Some suggest that buying locally-grown food is more green, since the produce travels fewer miles to get from the farm to your plate.

It can be more nutritious
Fresh food can contain more nutrients, and produce from local farms is often organic, too!

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