National Folic Acid Awareness Week

National Folic Acid Week Takes Place on the Second Full Week of September

National Folic Acid Awareness Week is observed during the second full week of September every year. It brings much-needed attention to this crucial vitamin that is especially important to women who are either pregnant or may become pregnant. This is because folic acid in one’s diet is a key weapon in the fight against folate deficiency anemia in infants. In fact, if taken before conception and during early pregnancy, folic acid can also prevent up to 70% of some neural tube defects. These are serious birth defects of the brain and spine.

The powerful B vitamin has been and continues to be added to staples such as flour and pasta. It is also found in high proportions in unaltered foods like leafy greens, bread and legumes. Folic acid supports cardiovascular, brain, and neural health. Our bodies use folic acid to produce new cells, thus making it important in the development of a strong, healthy fetus. The awareness color associated with folic acid and National Folic Acid Awareness Week is green. Wear a green enamel awareness ribbon pin, fabric ribbon, or green silicone awareness wristband bracelet to call attention to this important month. All items are available in a personalized and non-personalized version.

History of National Folic Acid Week Awareness

Folic Acid Awareness Week has been recognized as a part of the CDC-backed National Birth Defects Prevention Month since 1997.

The quick-reference number for the amount of folic acid or vitamin B9 that women should consume each day is 400 micrograms. But that can be intimidating to measure and keep track of on your own. An expecting mother should routinely check with her doctor, who can fine-tune those levels for the optimal health of mother and fetus. And just as with every other regimen, like fitness, studying, or learning a new skill at work, your folic acid intake and monitoring will become second nature.

During National Folic Acid Awareness Week, we urge you to pay strict attention to this one preventative measure. Not only that, but spread the word to friends and family who may not have current information. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

How to Observe National Folic Acid Awareness Week

• Learn about birth defects and their prevention.

  As we’ve seen, lack of folic acid can lead to some unfortunate and serious neural tube defects in unborn babies. Take the time to better inform yourself about the ways in which some defects can be prevented. Knowledge is power.

• Spread the word on social media.

  Help call attention to National Folic Acid Awareness Week by giving it some love on your social media. The more people who know about the importance of folic acid, the better. (Hint: Official social media “kits” can be found on the .gov sites that focus on folic acid.)

• Incorporate more folic acid into your diet.

  We all can benefit from a little extra folic acid in our diets. Luckily, getting this important B vitamin is easy. There are a ton of multivitamins available that contain folic acid. In addition, many foods like grains, pasta, and cereals are fortified with folic acid. Here’s an interesting tip: cooked broccoli actually contains more B9 than raw broccoli does!