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Folic acid (sometimes called folacin, folinic acid, or pteroylglutamic
acid) is essential for the synthesis of adenine and thymine, two of
the four nucleic acids that make up human genes, DNA and chromosomes.
Folic acid is also required for the proper metabolism of the essential
amino acid methionine, found primarily in animal proteins. A folic
acid deficiency has been linked to an elevated level of homocysteine,
a sulfur-containing amino acid. High homocysteine levels, in turn,
have been linked to cardiovascular disease and a host of other
undesirable conditions.
It is estimated that 88%
of North Americans suffer from a deficiency of folic acid. Beans and
green vegetables like kale and spinach are good sources of folic acid;
however, few people eat enough vegetables and cooking destroys most of
the folate.
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