Vitamin B9, Benefits and Where to Find It

What is vitamin B9 or folic acid?

Folic acid or vitamin B9, is a protein that is soluble in water and is very important due to the fact that it is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and proteins, these are not stored in the body so they must be consumed daily and are found in foods bound to coenzymes.

What is vitamin B9 for?

Vitamin B9 is a nutrient that has different functions in our body and immune system such as:

• Helps the body digest and use protein.
• Works with vitamin B12 and vitamin C.
• Helps with tissue growth and cell function.
• It is required for cell division.
• Contributes to the formation of DNA.
• Intervenes in the formation of red blood cells.

What problems occur due to a lack of vitamin B12?

the existence of a deficiency of vitamin B9 can be caused due to the low intake of foods that contain folic acid, another cause is the lack of absorption that this can be produced by type A atrophic gastritis, for which it is advisable to go to the doctor to get a checkup.

The problems presented by the lack of having low levels of folic acid can be:

• Hemolytic anemia.
• Insufficient growth.
• Smooth and sensitive tongue.
• Low levels of white blood cells and platelets
• Serious congenital anomalies

What foods are they in?

To prevent any problem of lack of folic acid, it is necessary to know in which foods they are found, vitamin B9 occurs naturally in foods such as:

• Liver: Any type of beef liver contains high amounts of B9, at the same time it provides our body with good levels of high-quality protein along with other important nutrients. It also helps to build muscle mass and especially for the cellular functions of the organism.
• Legumes: We can find foods such as beans, chickpeas, soybeans and peas.
• Dressings and dressings: For salads you can dress with brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, soy sauce, etc. Due to its high amount of vitamin B.
• Green Leafy Vegetables: Like spinach, lettuce, chard, cabbage, the more they are foods rich in folic acid. Although parsley is consumed to a lesser extent, other green foods where vitamin B9 can be found are asparagus, leeks, and artichokes.

These green foods are better consumed raw or steamed, since if we cook them in contact with boiled water they can lose many of their benefits.

Are there any risks if vitamin B9 is consumed in excess?

• Vitamin B9 is found in a wide variety of foods naturally, so it is not harmful to people’s health. However, the use of supplements of this type of vitamins exceeding the maximum recommended limit is not correct as long as it was not through a diagnosis by a health professional.
• The consumption of high concentrations of folic acid can be beneficial to cover a vitamin B12 deficiency since these can correct the anemia caused by this deficiency but not the damage that can be caused to the nervous system that vitamin B12 can treat.
• High doses of B9 might increase the risk of colorectal cancer and other types of cancer as well.

If you have a severe deficiency of vitamin B9, it is recommended to visit your GP who can prescribe vitamin supplements that contain high concentrations of this and other vitamins. At XTRALIFE we have a range of products that contain varieties of vitamins, these will help you recover and reach optimal levels in the body again.