Vitamin B9 (or folic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for the health of the whole body. It is also called female vitamin, although it is equally necessary for men. Folic acid is one of the most important substances that you need to take in early pregnancy, as this prevents fetal malformations and reduces the likelihood of miscarriage. Vitamin B9 is an essential element for the beauty and health of skin, hair and nails. This does not mean that you need to immediately start drinking expensive vitamin complexes and supplements, just optimize your diet.
The role of folic acid
Vitamin B9 takes part in hematopoiesis, prevents the process of obesity of the liver, supports the immune system, promotes the formation and functioning of white blood cells. According to recent data, it is folic acid that is the most important element for the formation of embryonic nerve cells in the first two weeks of pregnancy, when the mother does not suspect that a new life is developing inside her.
Symptoms of folic acid deficiency
Any doctor will quickly notice such symptoms in his patient. These are pallor of the skin and fatigue, general weakness, neuralgic pain, insomnia and low immunity. Having collected all the complaints, the doctor can analyze additional symptoms (severe dry skin, brittle hair and nails, nervousness, bad mood, apathy). With a deficiency of this vitamin, the immune system suffers , worse not only red blood cells are produced, but also platelets, as well as white blood cells. Disturbed general homeostasis and blood supply to the periphery. And this is our hair, nails and skin, which with a lack of oxygen and nutrients do not look the best.
The main sources of folic acid
Vitamin B9 synthesizes our own body, namely the intestinal microflora of a healthy person. Any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, taking antibiotics and alcohol significantly reduce the possibility of developing this essential substance. To correct such conditions, individual therapy is prescribed. In addition, you need to know that a large amount of vitamin B9 (folic acid) is found in melons, watermelons and tomatoes. Only 150 g of pulp of any of these fruits contain the daily dose necessary for a person. A lot of folic acid and in citrus. Just one medium orange will give you 15% of the daily requirement. If you are limited in funds, then try sprouted wheat grains, only 50 g will provide you all day with not only B vitamins, but also other important trace elements. Beans, nuts, vegetables and fruits, greens are rich in folic acid.
Vitamins for hair
It is not for nothing that vitamins B9 and B12 are called the beauty formula today. Their lack instantly affects the most important decoration of a woman - her hair. It is folic acid that protects them from the effects of the environment, slows down the aging process and graying, helps hair growth even on foci of baldness. Cyanocobalamin (B12) helps to improve the appearance of hair and activate its growth. Together, these substances are necessary to give hair strength and shine, to prevent the appearance of oily shine.
Various cereals (whole grains, unpeeled) will help fill the deficiency of B vitamins. An additional source will be seeds, coarse bread, kidneys and liver of animals, eggs, beer and yeast.
Vitamins B9 in solution
Do not forget that only a doctor can establish a deficiency of a specific substance and prescribe appropriate therapy. Folic acid is available in the form of tablets and injectable solutions. At the same time, they are used not only for their intended purpose. Today, cosmetologists and hairdressers offer a huge number of hair masks, which include solutions for injection. They are mixed with various oils (apricot, almond, burdock, wheat germ, grape seed) and applied to the head like a mask. In order for nutrients to penetrate better through the protective skin barrier, special preparations like Dimexide are used. In this way, vitamin B9 gets directly to the hair follicles.
If your doctor does not find contraindications, then from time to time you can take a course of treatment with B vitamins. This will allow your hair to always remain healthy and grow quickly.
Folic Acid Destroying Factors
We have already raised the question of which foods have vitamin B9. These are watermelons and melons, tomatoes and all, without exception, citrus fruits. Delicious fruits and waxes that autumn gives in abundance: apples, pears, grapes, apricots, currants, dates, pumpkin and many others - contain a very large amount of B vitamins, eat them as often as possible. Of the whole grain cereals, the leaders are wheat and green buckwheat, also pay attention to the seedlings of legumes: soybeans, beans, chickpeas or lentils. Available sources of vitamin are also vegetable oils and a variety of nuts.
If you eat right, varied and in sufficient quantity, then problems with folic acid, as well as with other vitamins, will not arise. Do not forget that folic acid is rapidly destroyed in the light and at room temperature, so you should not leave nuts and vegetable oil on the table.
But even eating properly, you may be deficient in vitamin B9. It destroys the regular use of tea and coffee, alcohol and medications, birth control pills. Smoking also leads to a deficiency of this essential element. Do not forget about your beauty and health, vitamin B9 is vital for hair growth, but it is no less important for the skin and metabolic processes, the work of internal organs.
What foods are primarily needed for hair growth
Not all sources of folic acid contain the same amount. In order to grow the braid to the belt, you must daily include carrots, legumes and soy, eggs, bran, sprouted wheat and nuts in the diet. If the situation is already deplorable, then try to drink a course of brewer's yeast, our grandmothers also used this remedy. It contains folic acid and protein foods, without which it is difficult to maintain youth and beauty.
Today, many take complex vitamins that are widely publicized and recommended by therapists. Do not forget that synthetic vitamins are very different from natural ones, they are absorbed worse, but unlike natural vitamins easily provoke the development of an overdose symptom. A well-composed diet will much better satisfy all the needs of the body than the most remarkable food supplement.