News — dietary folate equivalents

A bowl of beans, a side of spinach, or your usual breakfast cereal can all contribute folate to your day. The amount depends on the food, the serving size, and whether folic acid has been added. Foods high in folate include cooked spinach, black-eyed peas, and asparagus. Fruit and other vegetables contribute smaller amounts, while fortified cereals and enriched grains can supply added folic acid. NIH food sources of folate You do not need to rebuild your entire menu. Start with foods you enjoy, then look for a few places to include them more often. What is folate, and why...

Your spinach and your supplement bottle use different names for a reason. Pick up a bag of spinach and you will probably hear the word folate. Turn over a supplement bottle and you may find folic acid instead. Look a little closer at the Supplement Facts panel and another term can appear: mcg DFE. At first, it can look like three different things. They are actually connected. The difference between folate and folic acid mainly depends on the type of vitamin B9. It also depends on where it comes from. It can also depend on how it is listed on...