With all the different names, terms, and ingredients out there, it’s easy to get confused. You’ve probably seen ‘folic acid’ on the label of various food products. What is folic acid? What is folate? What’s the difference between the two? Vitamin B9Folic acid and folate are forms of vitamin B9. B9 plays important roles in your body, such as DNA formation and cell growth. Low levels of vitamin B9 have been linked to an increased risk of a range of conditions, such as: Headaches, weakness, and fatigueBirth defects [1]Increased cancer risk [2]Elevated homocysteine and increased risk of stroke and heart disease [3] [4]Lots of people supplement with vitamin B9, and many countries, including Canada and the United States, mandate fortifying food with this nutrient. What is Folate?Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9. Leafy veggies are some of the best sources of B9, and the name folate came from the Latin term ‘folium’ for leaf. Folate is the overarching term for a group of related and nutritionally similar compounds.Folate is the active form […]…