While there are certainly many Reasons to take vitamin C every day and vitamin D definitely does something amazing things for your bodynow there is a very good reason to add vitamin B9 (folate) to the list of vitamins to ensure that you consume it regularly.
This is because recently published research in the Evidence-Based Mental Health daily has shown that not making sure you get enough vitamin B9 could be a dietary habit linked to the development of dementia.
Looking at the medical records of more than 27,000 people between the ages of 60 and 75, the researchers found that those who were deficient in folate were also “68 percent more likely to be diagnosed with dementia,” according to Eurek alert!.
“Folate appears to influence cognitive function,” LisaYoungPhD, RDN and member of the ETNT medical review board, tells Eat This, Not That! “It is crucial for the proper functioning of the nervous system, and in the elderly, a deficiency can contribute to brain aging that can increase the risk of dementia.”
At the same time, Dr. Young notes that “too much folate can mask a B12 deficiency, so if you’re prone to B12 deficiency, you should let your doctor know if you take folate supplements.” Beyond that, adds Young, “it’s plentiful in the food, so it’s easy to get enough.”
In fact, if you’re looking to add more vitamin B9 to your diet, Dr. Young says that “it’s abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as legumes/beans: asparagus, lettuce, kidney beans, chickpeas, broccoli, and most fruits.” and vegetables contain folate. Its name folate even comes from the foliage.” On top of that, “the bread supply (bread and wheat flour) is also fortified with folate.”
For more information on how to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B9 in your diet, be sure to read Top 20 Folate Rich Foods.
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