The 14 Best Folate Rich Foods

The 14 Best Folate Rich Foods

Folate deficiencies are becoming more and more common in today’s society due to the over processing of food and poor food choices that many people are consistently making.  Folate is an essential vitamin needed for DNA repair and other critical healing functions in the body.  This article discusses the top 14 folate rich foods to get this powerful nutrients into your body.

A nutrient so significant during life’s development, the benefits of folate should not be passed over during any other state of growth. Folate is essential for the health of a growing child, an adult and an aging senior. In other words, are you receiving your recommended daily intake of folate to support your body’s healing abilities?

The Difference between Folate and Folic Acid

Many industrial sized food advertisements expect you to believe folic acid is the same thing as folate. Although the words folate and folic acid are often used interchangeably, the source of each nutrient is not. Folic acid is a synthetic compound found to be more readily available by the body than natural forms of folate (8). Natural folate, also called vitamin B9, is abundantly found in fruits and vegetables and other natural sources.

Initially you may assume that because folic acid becomes more bioavailable to the body than folate, folic acid fortification and supplementation would have a positive health effect. However, the overconsumption of folic acid by someone eating the average American diet loaded with fortified cereals and processed breads may have toxic concentrations accumulated in the body.

The overconsumption of folic acid is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer, asthma, cognitive decline and the pathogenesis of disease (4). The liver is responsible for breaking down folic acid but as consumption increases, higher amounts of folic acid build up in the liver and absorbed into systemic circulation. (5)

The Benefits of Folate

Avoiding the risks that come from a diet high in folic acid is as simple as eating high quality foods. Unlike elevated amounts of folic acid creating deleterious health consequences, folate actually can protect you against health complications.

Folate from food supports growth and development, regulates gut health, cardiovascular function and is related to a lower incidence of cancer and disease (6).  Some of the foods richest in this micronutrient include spinach, asparagus, broccoli, papaya and lentils.

1. Improves Cardiovascular Function:

Proper folate concentration can improve endothelial cells which line blood vessels reducing the risk for hypertension and heart disease (2).  Folate helps improve overall circulation and oxygen extraction into the cells of the body.

2. Lowers Homocysteine Levels:

The synthesis of homocysteine in the body is complex and related to a variety of factors including intake of folate, folic acid, other B vitamins and methionine primarily found in protein sources (3).

Homocysteine promotes fatty build up in blood vessels and leads to the degeneration of arteries and predisposes an individual to arteriosclerosis (1). It is also greatly associated with oxidative stress as it impairs the production of nitric oxide, an occurrence evident in patients with hypertension (2).

3. Supports Proper Methylation:

One physiological abnormality which can lead to increased homocysteine levels is a lowered rate of methylation (1). Methylation is a complex physiological process that works to turn on and off gene expression and plays a big role in neurotransmitter production, inflammation control and detoxification.

A methylation abnormality is common in individuals with an MTHFR gene mutation which is thought to be present in roughly 65% of the population.  About 25% in our society have a double MTHFR gene mutation which can cause further worsening of methylation processes.

Folate and B vitamins such as vitamins B6 and B12 are required to convert homocysteine into methionine through a methylation process which stabilizes homocysteine levels (3). This detoxification process is essential for the proper synthesis and repair of DNA and RNA.

4. Supports Immune Response:

Healthy folate levels have been shown to mask the adverse health risks associated with having a B12 deficiency often seen in older adults and vegetarians. Folic acid, however, can aggravate a B12 deficiency and inhibit the natural killer cells response essential for the protection against carcinogenic cells and a healthy immune response (6).

Folate is an important part of blood cell development and the bodies natural immune response.  Be sure to eat folate rich foods and consider folate supplementation for good immune health.

Foods Rich in Folate

The following list comprises the 14 best foods you should be eating to add natural sources of folate into your diet. They highest concentration of folate is found in dark leafy green vegetables. These foods are best consumed when fresh, local and organic.

Many of these foods are also rich in a variety of other B vitamins which support the metabolism of folate and the body’s natural detoxification methylation pathways. As with any other food item, variety is the key to the proper balance of whole nutrition. Including a range of folate rich foods into your meal plan is best for optimal health. (7, 9, 11)

1. Spinach
2. Asparagus
3. Avocado
4. Broccoli
5. Beets
6. Okra
7. Seeds & Nuts
8. Beans, Peas, and Lentils
9. Romaine Lettuce
10. Turnip Greens
11. Papaya and Oranges
12. Brussels Sprouts
13. Cauliflower
14. Bell Peppers

Juicing Greens To Boost Folate:

Fresh foods are highest in folate compared to packaged, processed and even frozen sources (7). Much of the complex array of B vitamins in general, is lost during process along with other antioxidants. One study found that freezing depleted the food source of 60% of its natural B vitamin density (10).

One of the best ways to make sure you are receiving the recommended daily intake of natural folate is to juice these fruits and veggies. You will also want to consume the juice fresh as nutrients are broken down when in contact with heat and light. If you choose to prepare your juice in advance, store the juice in an airtight and dark container in the fridge.

Do You Get Enough Folate?

Folate is essential for the proper formation of a woman’s fetus during development. The formation of neural tubes is dependent on this nutrient and a deficiency during a woman’s pregnancy is significantly associated with spina bifida and other complications including stillbirths (8).

Increasing a woman’s intake of folate while breast feeding is also necessary for the health of the infant as folate is passed through mother’s milk. The recommended dietary allowance for a woman breastfeeding is a minimum of 600 mcg daily and upwards of 800 mcg from other reports. Otherwise, the daily recommended value for consumption is approximately 400 mcg for adults. (11)

If you experience symptoms such as anemia, confusion, depression and shortness of breath you may need to increase the amount of folate rich foods in your diet (8). Having fresh juice in the morning prepared from spinach, avocado and beets is an excellent way to absorb nutrients. Having a serving of papaya and nuts for a midday snack followed after by a dinner loaded with folate rich leafy greens is an easy, effective and healthy way to be sure you are receiving adequate folate in your diet.

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Sources for this Article Include:

1. McCully KS. Vascular pathology of homocysteinemia: implications for the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Am J Pathol. 1969 Jul; 56 (1):111-128 PMCID: 2013581

2. McRae MP. High-dose folic acid supplementation effects on endothelial function and blood pressure in hyprtensive patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. J Chiropr Med. 2009 Mar; 8(10):15-24. PMCID: 2697578

3. Lucock M., et al. Methylation diet and methyl group genetics in risk for ademonatous polyp occurrence. BBA Clin. 2015 Jan; 3: 107-12. PMID: 26673393

4. Kumar P., Yadazv U., and Rai V. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism and breast cancer risk: Evidence for genetic susceptibility. Meta Gene. 2015 Oct; 6: 72-84. PMID: 26629412

5. Folic acid under scrutiny. British J Nutr. 2007; 98: 665-666 Link Here

6. Nair MK, Augustine LF, and Konapur A. Food-Based Interventions to Modify Diet Quality and Diversity to Address Multiple Micronutrient Deficiency. Front Public Health. 2015; 3:277. PMCID: 4700276

7. The World’s Healthifiest Foods: folic acid Link Here

8. Liew SC. Folic acid and diseases-supplement it or not? Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2016 Feb; 62(1):90-100. PMID: 27008500

9. Self Nutrition Data Link Here

10. Maximizing the Nutritional Value of Fruits & Vegetables Link Here

11. NIH: Folic Acid Link Here