Health Tip

Folic acid is a B vitamin that everyone needs for good health, especially women in their childbearing years. Folic acid plays a role in preventing spina bifida, a type of birth defect of the baby’s brain and spine. Since about 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned, it’s important that women who could become pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Eating a breakfast cereal with 100 percent of the daily value for folic acid is one way to get enough, but the most reliable way to get that amount is to take a multivitamin with folic acid.