Folate & Folic Acid
Folate (pronounced FOE-late) is a water-soluble B vitamin that everyone needs every day. Folate is not stored in the body in large amounts and must be eaten or taken every day so the body has enough to function properly.
The term "folic acid" (FOE-lick) is used for the synthetic or man-made form of the vitamin. The term "food folate" is used for foods that contain the natural form of the vitamin. The general term "folate" is often used to describe both forms of the vitamin.
Everyone Needs Folate Every Day
- Folate helps make DNA. DNA tells cells what they will be and how they will work. Folate is important for proper growth and development and helps the body replace cells on a daily basis.
- Because of its role in making DNA, folate is needed to make healthy red blood cells.
- Folate is needed for many reactions in the body. It helps change one substance into another so the body can function properly.
Folate, or folic acid, is a vitamin that you need every day throughout your lifetime for good health.