FOLIC ACID Overview Information Folic acid is a water-soluble B
vitamin. Since 1998, it has been added to cold cereals, flour,
breads, pasta, bakery items, cookies, and crackers, as required
by federal law. Foods that are naturally high in folic acid
include leafy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, and
lettuce), okra, asparagus, fruits (such as bananas, melons, and
lemons) beans, yeast, mushrooms, meat (such as beef liver and
kidney), orange juice, and tomato juice. Folic acid is used for
preventing and treating low blood levels of folic acid (folic
acid deficiency), as well as its complications, including “tired
blood” (anemia) and the inability of the bowel to absorb
nutrients properly. Folic acid is also used for other conditions
commonly associated with folic acid deficiency, including
ulcerative colitis, liver disease, alcoholism, and kidney
dialysis. Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant take
folic acid to prevent miscarriage and “neural tube defects,”
birth defects such as spina bifida th