What is the Most Common Cause of Folate Deficiency? Find Out Now

1. Understanding Folate Deficiency

Well, if you’ve been feeling unusually tired or having trouble concentrating lately, you might be dealing with something you haven’t considered: folate deficiency. It’s one of those health issues that can easily go unnoticed until it starts to really affect your day-to-day life. Folate is a type of B-vitamin that plays a key role in cell growth and the production of DNA. Without enough folate, your body can struggle with making new cells, especially red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Honestly, I didn’t fully understand the importance of folate until I personally went through a period of feeling really sluggish and run down, and after some tests, I found out I was low on this essential vitamin. That’s when I started researching its causes.

2. The Most Common Cause: Poor Diet

Okay, let’s get right to the point: the most common cause of folate deficiency is simply not getting enough folate from your diet. You might be thinking, "Well, how is that possible? I eat vegetables, right?" But the truth is, folate isn’t always easy to absorb, and many of us aren’t getting the recommended amount from our daily meals.

Folate is found in leafy greens, like spinach and kale, as well as in legumes, nuts, and fortified cereals. But here's the kicker – the way we cook our food can destroy a lot of the folate in our veggies. Steaming or boiling, for example, can significantly reduce folate content. And if you're like me, maybe you’ve been relying on quick meals or takeout, which aren’t exactly folate-packed.

Poor diet examples:

• Lack of leafy greens
• Overcooked vegetables
• High reliance on processed or fast foods

3. Digestive Issues and Malabsorption

Honestly, this one hit me hard when I started researching more. Malabsorption issues can also cause folate deficiency. If your body isn’t absorbing nutrients properly, no matter how much you eat, it won’t make a difference. People with certain digestive disorders like celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have trouble absorbing folate and other essential vitamins.

I remember a conversation I had with my friend Jake, who’s been dealing with Crohn’s for years. He told me how even though he was eating "healthy," his body just wasn’t absorbing nutrients the way it should. That stuck with me. If you’ve ever had digestive problems, it’s a good idea to get your levels checked regularly.

Diseases that cause malabsorption:

• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

4. Certain Medications Can Lower Folate Levels

Okay, this might surprise you, but if you’re on certain medications, they can actually lower your folate levels. I had no idea about this until I started diving into the details. Some medications, especially those used to treat epilepsy, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, can interfere with the way your body processes folate. So, if you’re taking something regularly, it’s worth checking in with your doctor to see if it could be impacting your folate.

For example, methotrexate, a drug commonly prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, is known to decrease folate levels. I had a colleague once who was on this medication, and after some time, he started feeling fatigued and had trouble focusing. His doctor later realized it was related to his folate levels being low.

Medications that impact folate absorption:

• Methotrexate
• Anti-seizure medications
• Some diabetes medications

5. Pregnancy and Increased Folate Demand

If you're pregnant or planning to be, your folate needs go way up. Folate is crucial for the development of the baby’s neural tube, and not getting enough during pregnancy can lead to serious complications. Honestly, my sister, who was pregnant last year, was so careful about her diet and supplementation, and it made all the difference. But a lot of people don't realize that during pregnancy, the body’s folate demand is much higher than usual.

Why is folate important during pregnancy?

• Essential for fetal development
• Prevents birth defects like spina bifida
• Helps the placenta grow

6. Conclusion: Don’t Ignore the Signs of Folate Deficiency

In summary, folate deficiency is often caused by a combination of diet, digestive issues, medication, and certain life stages, like pregnancy. The most common cause is not getting enough folate from food, so it's important to eat a balanced diet rich in folate-containing foods, especially if you’re prone to digestive issues or on certain medications. If you’ve been feeling off lately, it might be worth checking your folate levels with your doctor. Trust me, getting that simple blood test could save you from a lot of unnecessary fatigue and frustration.

So, take care of your body, eat those leafy greens, and if you’re having trouble with absorption or meds, get some professional advice. It really does make a difference!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.