Folic acid (folate or folacin, B9), is essential for helping the body develop and sustain new cells. A folic acid deficiency has been linked to heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer's, anemia, certain cancers, and the list continues to increase as more research is being done.

The importance of folic acid was discovered in the year 1964 when it was extracted from spinach leaves. A recent study showed that patience suffering depression improved significantly when given a folic acid supplement. Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and alcoholism, can lead to folic acid deficiency. The Journal of the American Medical Association stated that folic acid actually relaxes blood vessels.

Beans, yeast, and leafy greens are excellent sources of folic acid, but cooking takes much of it out. Therefore, the body benefits more from supplements than natural sources. Furthermore, vitamin B12 and B6 help the body utilize folic acid and need to be used in combination.

Another of the many benefits of folic acid is that it reduces the risk of colon cancer and heart disease. High cholesterol poses a serious risk for heart disease, but a rival risk factor is an increase in homocysteine, which is an anomalous protein spin-off. High levels of homocysteine can severely damage arteries. Folic acid, along with B12 and B6 have been shown to help the body significantly lower homocysteine levels in the blood.

Since the fortification of folic acid, neural tube defects in babies have decreased by nearly fifty percent. However, the news is not all good. It seems that the folic acid fortification could be increasing the chance of colorectal cancer.

According to Science News, Joel Mason, MD, director of the USDA HNRCA's Vitamins and Carcinogenesis Laboratory said, "Since the time that the food supply in North America was fortified with folic acid, we have been experiencing four to six additional cases of colorectal cancer for every 100,000 individuals each year compared to the trends that existed before fortification."

Six out of a hundred thousand doesn't seem to suggest a serious increase, nevertheless, it is still an increase and studies are still ongoing.

Foods rich in folic acid include:

- Cantaloupe
- Barley
- Beans
- Spinach
- Peas
- Wheat germ
- Mushrooms
- Kale
- Bananas,
- Rice
- Root vegetables
- Collards
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Lamb
- Brewer's yeast
- Oranges
- Mushrooms,
- Asparagus
- Broccoli

Folic acid supplements can be bought over-the-counter, are relatively inexpensive and essential in building a strong immune system. The recommended daily allowance is 400 micrograms.

The newest trend in health today is a diet that focuses on the bible, due in part to Dr. Don Colby's book titled, "What Would Jesus Eat?"

"See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." (Gen.1:29)

There is therefore, a strong indication that the Lord intended for our diet to consist mainly of herb, seed, fruit and vegetables, which are high in folic acid.

Of course, it is well documented that the Savior ate fish and probably partook of the Passover lamb, however; more likely as not, meat was eaten only on occasion and was mostly sardine-like fish, which is also high in folic acid.

Jesus Christ's diet would had to have included foods such as figs, beans, lentils, pomegranates, dates, fish, and lots of wheat bread. Therefore, since these foods are rich in folic acid, and the Lord Himself ate them on a regular basis, it would be safe to assume that we should too.

Learn more about this author, Pat Lunsford.
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