healthnut

When we hear folate, we often associate this vitamin with pregnant women. Folate, which is found in spinach and in beans, is very much responsible for proper digestion, DNA synthesis and its repair as well as the healthy growth and division of red blood cells.

As humans, we get NEW red blood cells every 120 days. In normal mature red blood cells, the nucleus disappear before leaving the bone marrow and then solely rely on glucose for energy (food). But in people with folate deficiency, the nucleus are still partially or fully attached because of the lack the folate needed to make proper DNA synthesis. In addition, they have abnormally large red blood cells because they lack the hemoglobin needed to stop the growth of these cells.

Folate is commonly associated with iron. Without iron, one cannot make blood, and without folate one cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells. The daily recommended RDA intake for this essential nutrient is 400 mcg. Pregnant women and those who exercise will need slightly more. As a fyi, exercise increases the production of red blood cells by 3 million per cubic meter PER SECOND. So instead of making the normal production of 2 million red blood cells per cubic meter per second, those who exercise will make 5 million red blood cells per cubic meter per second.