Folates

/ˈfoʊleɪts/ noun

Definition

Plural of folate; B vitamins found naturally in foods like leafy greens, beans, and asparagus that help your body make DNA and new cells.

Etymology

From folate, which comes from the Latin 'folium' meaning 'leaf,' because these vitamins were first discovered in leafy vegetables. The '-ate' suffix indicates it's a chemical compound.

Kelly Says

Folate is one of nature's most important nutrients for pregnant people—it literally helps prevent brain and spinal cord birth defects. The vitamin is so important that many governments now require bread and cereals to be fortified with it, yet most people have never heard of it.

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