Folic Acid in Your Diet

Folic acid (sometimes called folate or folacin) is a B vitamin found in many vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, and fortified breakfast cereals. Folic acid may reduce the risk of some cancers, but current evidence suggests that folic acid is best consumed along with the other nutrients in fruits, vegetables and other foods.

Folic acid supplements sometimes are recommended for pregnant women as a way to reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in their infants. Most people in the United States get an adequate intake of folacin because it is plentiful in the food supply.

Guidelines on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention, the American Cancer Society stated: "Current evidence suggests that to reduce cancer risk, folic acid is best consumed along with the other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods."

Fruits and Vegetables High in Folic Acid:

• Cabbage
• Black-eyed peas
• Endive/escarole
• Grapefruit
• Guava lettuce
• Limes
• Mango
• Oranges
• Papaya
• Peanuts
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tangerines