The Basics: Overview
All women who are able to get pregnant or planning to get pregnant need 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is found in some vitamins and foods like breakfast cereal or bread that have folic acid added.
Why is folic acid important?
Everyone needs folic acid, but it’s especially important if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Folic acid is a vitamin that can prevent birth defects.
Getting enough folic acid is important even when you aren’t planning to get pregnant. It’s needed during the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she’s pregnant.
Talk with your doctor about folic acid.
The Basics: Foods and Vitamins
How can I get enough folic acid?
Getting enough folic acid every day is easy. You can eat foods like breakfast cereal or bread that have folic acid added. Or you can take a vitamin with folic acid.
Look for breakfast cereal with folic acid.
Check the Nutrition Facts label on the side of the box to see how much folic acid the cereal has. Choose cereal that has 100% DV (Daily Value) of folic acid.
Take a vitamin with folic acid.
You can take a multivitamin or a pill that has only folic acid. Vitamins and folic acid pills can be found at most pharmacies and grocery stores. Get tips for choosing a vitamin with folic acid.
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