The Government is considering adding Folic Acid to all bread except wholemeal at the milling stage.
Why Add Folic Acid To Bread?
As bread is part of the staple diet of most people, adding Folic Acid, will mean everybody will be taking Folic Acid, whether they wish to or not.
The people, who it is actually aimed at, are pregnant women. So by adding Folic Acid to bread, it could reduce the number of babies being born with Spina Bifida.
What Is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida is a serious condition where the baby is born with part of the spine not completely developed, so leaving the nerves in the back unprotected and exposed.
This defect can happen during the first month of pregnancy.
As the spinal cord is part of the brain ? ie the nerves connected to the spinal cord are unable to send messages to the brain. This means that the baby may not be able to walk; and even the ability to learn may be affected.
It is possible to operate on the newborn baby to close the gap, but as the nerve damage has already happened, the damage is permanent and unfortunately an operation on the nerves is of no use.
Other complications due to the baby having Spina Bifida are that the baby may have problems with their bowels and bladder.
A close relation to Spina Bifida is Hydrocephalus (an accumulation of spinal fluid on the brain).
Is There Any Treatment For The Baby With Spina Bifida?
Apart from the operation soon after birth to close the gap, the best that can be done to help the baby to live as normal a life as possible is treating each problem with medication and physiotherapy.
Many individuals with Spina Bifida will need help of some kind for the rest of their lives. This may involve the use of devices, such as braces and wheelchairs.
What Is The Prognosis For People With Spina Bifida?
The prognosis for each individual is dependent on what defects there are:
Prognosis is at its worst for the baby born with complete paralysis. But with proper care most children with Spina Bifida can live for many years into adulthood.
How Many Babies Are Born With Spina Bifida? The number of babies born with Spina Bifida in the UK is between 700 ? 900 per year; while in the US one in every 2000 births are affected.
Some countries have already started adding Folic Acid to their flour and this is showing as a drop of between 30 ? 50% in babies born with Spina Bifida.
Who's Idea Is This?
The Government's food watchdog ? The Food Standard's Agency are putting forward the idea of adding Folic Acid to flour at its milling stage.
Although in 2002 the Food Standard Agency rejected a report put forward in 2000. So why have they changed their minds yet again? Maybe due to other countries that have been adding Folic Acid to their bread are showing a drop in babies being born with Spina Bifida.
How Much Is It Likely To Cost?
It has been estimated that the cost to industry will be around ?700 000 a year.
Is There A Downside To Giving Everyone Folic Acid?
As people are being mass medicated this can cause concern for many. Also medically, taking Folic Acid can mean that older people with a Vitamin B12 deficiency resulting in Pernicious Anaemia may not be noticed immediately and so their treatment will be delayed.
What Can A Woman Of Child Bearing Years Do?
As many pregnancies are unplanned and it is being proved that a deficiency of Folic Acid may result in a baby being born with Spina Bifida; including Folic Acid in the food they eat should be a must have. It is highly recommended that all women of childbearing years should take Folic Acid in a Nutritional Supplement and eat plenty of green vegetables, as they are rich in Folic Acid.
By adding Folic Acid to bread it will hopefully result in less babies being born with Spina Bifida. And this can only be a good thing can't it?
One of these is the increase of hormones in the women's body while they are pregnant. The occurrence of this will result in softening the ligaments which function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed. When the LES rests at unsuitable periods, tendency is, this will let the gastric acid and food to reflux back to the esophagus and throat.
One more reason of experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby creates more pressure in the women's stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.
However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to lessen the discomfort brought by heartburn. The following are good advices, although this may not remove the heartburn totally:
&bullAvoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. Try to refer to medical specialists to know the complete list of foods to avoid Acid Reflux. Also, for foods that you may take which contains little danger of causing heartburn.
&bullGet rid of drinks that have caffeine, like tea, coffee, and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.
&bullStay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect-triggering heartburn.
&bullAvoid eating large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.
&bullAvoid rush in eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating.
&bullRest for at least three hours after having your last meal before taking your sleep.
&bullA pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.
&bullWhen sleeping elevate the head of the bed for at least six to eight inches. Try to sleep with an elevated head and shoulders through a wedge pillow. Through this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach in their place-in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve nighttime heartburn.
&bullDon't wear tight fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.
&bullWhen bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. This will avoid in creating too much pressure in the stomach.
&bullDon't slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.
&bullMaintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. Stay with your doctors guidelines.
&bullAvoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, much that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn.
Both Eva Moffat & Himanshu Joshi are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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