Is your diet is rich in leaves and greens, there is certainly nothing to worry. If the situation is another way around, you are complicating yourself:
Folate, which is one of the B vitamins, is very important to help in the assimilation, breaking down and creation of new proteins in the body. Also called folic acid, folate is found in abundance in leafy and green vegetables and staying away from a diet rich in these foods can result in lowering of blood levels. DNA, which carries genetic information and also the building blocks of the human body, are created with the help of folate.
Some of the chief causes for folate deficiency include excessive consumption of alcohol. Heat also destroys the folate in food items easily and hence it is not retained when people eat food that is overcooked. In addition to this, treatments for disorders in the urinary tract like kidney dialysis can also result in folate deficiency. People with certain types of cancer and problems in the heart are more susceptible to folate deficiency.
Folate deficiency can result in some severe health complications like increasing the risk for some types of cancer and heart ailments. The good news, however, is that it can be easily treated and that its severe forms are not common in the country. In women, folate deficiency can cause conception difficult and cause complications during pregnancy. A rich diet of folate or its supplements can restore the imbalance and reduce the risks. Women can experience severe pain in the absence of normal flow of blood to the fetus. If the deficiency is severe, it can result in fetal deaths. The newborn can be premature or it can suffer from low birth weight. Other complications include a condition called ‘megaloblastic anemia’ where red blood cells are higher than usual and hence are not fully grown. Platelets and white blood cells also can be found in levels much lower than usual.
As folate is a water-soluble type of vitamin B, they do not latch on to the fatty tissues of the body and whatever surplus amounts there might be, are discharged through the urine. Due to this nature of not getting stored in the body, its level in the blood reduces unless supplementing by folate-rich food and supplements.
Symptoms of folate deficiency are reflected commonly through extreme exhaustion, premature graying of hair and ulcers in the mouth. This can lead to weakness, lethargy leading to loss of productivity at home and office. People also tend to become restless caused by anxiety due to low folate. Breathlessness and paleness of the skin in addition to swelling of the tongue are symptoms too. When one notices such symptoms for themselves or in any member of the family, they should reach out to a doctor without delay. There are several ways to cure this deficiency so that it doesn’t lead to any further complication. Hence, do not delay medical support.
