There are various benefits of folic acid for men, which are good for health. In fact, so far many people consider folic acid intake only needed by pregnant women and babies in the womb.
Not only for women, folic acid can also provide many benefits for men's health, from maintaining sperm quality, preventing anemia, to reducing the risk of various diseases.
Various Benefits of Folic Acid for Men
Here are some of the benefits of folic acid for men that you need to know:
1. Maintaining the quality of sperm
One of the important benefits of folic acid for men is maintaining sperm quality. A study found that low amounts of folic acid in a man's body can reduce sperm quality. In addition to maintaining sperm quality, adequate intake of folic acid can also increase sperm count.
2. Prevents anemia
With adequate intake of folic acid, you can avoid anemia, because folic acid plays an important role in the production of red blood cells. Anemia is a condition in which the body lacks red blood cells. The causes can vary, but one of them is low levels of folic acid in the body.
3. Reducing the risk of heart disease
Folic acid is known to reduce the risk of heart disease. This is because folic acid can reduce homocysteine levels in the blood, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
4. Prevent cancer
According to several studies, folic acid is believed to be able to prevent the growth of several types of cancer, namely lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer. However, further research is still needed to determine the effectiveness of folic acid in preventing cancer.
5. Overcoming depression
Folic acid is known to be able to improve depression. This is because folic acid can stimulate the production of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. No wonder folic acid is often added to antidepressant drugs.
How to Meet the Needs of Folic Acid
The need for folic acid for each man is different, depending on his age. For men aged 13 years and over, the recommended daily need for folic acid is 400 micrograms / day.
To meet the needs of folic acid, you can eat foods that are natural sources of folic acid, such as:
1. Nuts
In a cup of beans there are about 50 micrograms of folic acid. Nuts that are high in folic acid content include green beans, kidney beans, and peanuts.
2. Green vegetables
One cup of green vegetables contains about 58.2 micrograms of folic acid. Types of green vegetables that are rich in folic acid include spinach, kale, broccoli, and cabbage.
3. Fruits
A cup of avocados contains about 60 micrograms of folic acid. While one cup of orange contains about 35 micrograms of folic acid. Both types of fruits can be an option to meet your folic acid needs.
4. Beef liver
The content of folic acid in beef liver is 215 micrograms per 85 grams of beef liver.
To meet the daily needs of folic acid, you can consume the above foods regularly. For maximum absorption of folic acid, you need to limit consumption of alcoholic drinks. If you want to take folic acid supplements for men, you should consult with your doctor first so that the dose is as needed.
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