The Importance of FOLATE
Folic acid is not methyl-folate
Folic Acid is not biologically found in any living thing on this planet.
OUR BODIES DO NOT KNOW THIS SYNTHETIC FORM AND YET, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE RELYING ON TO SUPPORT THE EARLIEST DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN.
Folic acid does not exist in nature - it is a synthetic formulation, a cheap artificial version of folate that humans have NEVER CONSUMED until it was manufactured & sold in supplement form when folate was compromised by industrialized farming practices. Folic acid & folate are not the same. FULL STOP.
FOLATE PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HOW WE BEGIN LIFE IN UTERO
Folate is involved in preimplantation, A VERY COMPLEX SYNTHESIS OF BRAIN, SPINE & MIDLINE DEVELOPMENTS = supporting the rapidly dividing cells of the developing embryo, neural tube, heart, facial structures - tongue ties, cleft pallet, facilitating DNA replication…
SO, let’s simply sit with this for a moment - as we are creating a new human life, it is standard protocol today to take a synthetic version of folate, for us to assume & rely on an artificial resource for something that plays such an important role in our earliest embryonic development & lasting health. (???)
The first thing that most women think about when it comes to nutrition during our reproductive years is ‘what is THE BEST PRENATAL VITAMINS’ on the market today? Let’s consider WHY we are relying on synthetic nutrients in prenatal vitamins for the development of our children? Literally developing every detail of our unborn child in utero. Perhaps you have been relying on supplements in your everyday ‘wellness routine’ & it has become such common practice, we never stopped to consider the impacts - especially negative ones.
Does this not seem like an over simplification of something much more complex, far more intelligent - to design the health of our children, our future generations with synthetic nutritional sources?
LONG TERM SUPPLEMENTATION IS NOT THE ANSWER AND WE ARE SEEING THIS PLAY OUT IN REAL TIME, TODAY.
How might the folate cycle, innate metabolic synthesis be disrupted by an artificial substitute? Do you know how genetic variations, like MTHFR impact our fertility - both male & female, our pregnancies, miscarriage, conditions like ADHD, midline deficiencies, defects, etc. THAT BEGIN IN OUR WOMB & the relationship with folate and/or folic acid metabolism?
A mothers need for folate increases exponentially to support her growing needs, her babies growing needs throughout pregnancy & beyond.
Even doing a quick research as I was writing this - ‘folic acid’ is used synonymously with folate, which infuriates me, actually. It’s NOT true, it’s very manipulative & misleading. Same is true for Pitocin & oxytocin, progestin & progesterone, Vitamin A - beta carotene & Vitamin A - Retinol and on & on it goes - partial truths being spun & hoping YOU, WISE WOMEN - don’t dig deeper for the truth that lasts the test of time.
Artificially resourcing at such a crucial moment, the earliest development, our earliest cellular instructions while midline development is being formed in utero + growing a new organ “our life giving placenta” to support lasting gestation, while simultaneously providing the cellular instructions for growing an entirely new human being AND supporting the mother. Folate also improves sperm parameters as well as egg maturation prior to conception. It’s a family affair - XOXOXOXO
It is my personal belief & deeper understanding that PRECONCEPTION NOURISHMENT is one of the most impactful things we can do for our children, our long term ‘female health’ and lasting health of future generations.
In order to stop passing along our ‘not knowing’, our misunderstandings to our children - we must expand our capacity to be with these difficult truths - in order to make amends, in order to repair and take a step in the direction of Truth. Here is one such misunderstanding to question - FOLIC ACID is proving itself unworthy in healthy human development.
Nourishment is always a foundational pillar in all of my work, my courses, workshops, mentorships & hands on care - all of which support women & babies to thrive.
EVERYTHING WE CONSUME INFLUENCES HOW OUR BODY FUNCTIONS
Here are some questions for you to journey on your own…
What is folate? What other nutrients are in partnership with folate?
Where can you find the highest quality whole food sources that your body knows exactly how to synthesize & metabolize? Locally Sourced?
What foods have the highest amounts of bioavailable folate?
What foods have the highest amounts of folate while also containing other vital micronutrients that support development, in utero + postnatally, throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum healing & setting the healthiest stage for another pregnancy - WITHOUT DEFICIENCIES?
(if you prefer individualized support, please take a look at how we may work together - and how my work is informed by almost 3 decades working with women’s bodies)
A Loving Reminder -
Our female body is the container that holds, cares for and GROWS NEW LIFE.
We, as WOMEN, have an enormous responsibility to nourish ourselves deeply because by nurturing our fertility, our innate female wisdom, we are nurturing future generations that are relying on us to be healthy, strong, resilient, vibrant & in service to THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE.
I Love You,
Rebecca
May this information serve as a catalyst for deeper research & understanding for your health & the health of your growing family. This is not medical advice, it enhances your capacity to ask more & more & more questions to receive your best care.
