Technology has come an extremely long way in a very short amount of time. Just think of where we were even 20 years ago – Commodore 64, anyone? What about Zack Morris’ giant cell phone? Today we can access the world with our fingertips on devices that fit in our pockets. And those devices, more specifically the iPhone and all of its apps, can help us lead healthier lives and give our children a healthier start.
We’ve all heard about how important folic acid is in a woman’s diet, especially a woman who is planning to become pregnant, or is pregnant. Now, VitaPath Genetics has teamed up with the Spina Bifida Association and the National Council on Folic Acid to launch the VitaTrack Folate Tracker. This free iPhone application allows users to enter the food they’ve eaten on a daily basis in order to calculate the amount of folate (folic acid) they are consuming. Folic acid is a B-complex vitamin needed by the body to manufacture red blood cells. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause anemia. In addition, a lack of folic acid in the mother’s body can cause birth defects in her baby including congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, and Spina Bifida. Yet, studies have proven that the average consumption of folate among women is well below the recommended amount. If a woman finds she is not getting enough folic acid, she can add folic acid supplements to her healthy diet, allowing her and her child to stay healthy.
Spina Bifida is the most common, disabling birth defect in the United States according to the Spina Bifida Association. Yet the direct cause for the condition is unknown. What we do know is that folic acid can reduce the chances of a child have Spina Bifida by as much as 70%. Women of childbearing age should be getting 400 mcg per day of folic acid. If you are considering getting pregnant or are pregnant, talk to your doctor about folic acid intake and ensure you are getting the correct amount with the VitaTrack Folate Tracker.