Informative speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Informative speech - Essay Example There are many facts you must know about folate. Folate is a very important water-soluble B- vitamin found in a variety of foods. Its natural source is vitamin B9 found in peas, dried beans and other green leafy vegetables. As an additive in its synthetic form folate is found in bread, cereal and grains and is referred to as folic acid. It is also â€Å"found in supplements and added to fortified foods.† (Herbert V. 1999) Folate is indispensable to pregnant and nursing mothers because it helps in the rapid division and production of new cells and also prevents anemia during pregnancy. Some of the foods that are rich in folate are green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and turnip greens. According to the book, Nutrition Concepts and Controversies published in 2006 by Whitney and Sizer, folate is also found in asparagus, broccoli, and spinach. Fruits such as citrus and other juices also contain folate. Folate is also present in dried beans and peas. In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published regulations requiring the addition of folate to enriched breads, cereals, flours, pastas, rice, and other grain products which are consumed in good quantity and contributes a good deal to the American diet. According to the reports on the â€Å"The Recommended Dietary Allowances† (RDA) on the amount of folate necessary for children is 200 micrograms, for adults it is 400 micrograms and for pregnant women it is 600 micrograms of folate. .Folate deficiency results from the inadequate intake of folate. The book Clinical Spectrum and Diagnosis of Folate Deficiency published in 2001 by Allen Lindenbaum, explains that medication such as aspirin and other drugs used to treat cancer and alcohol abuse reduces the body’s ability to absorb folate. Folate deficiency in children results in poor or very slow overall growth rate. . In adults, the symptoms include diarrhea,