The second week of January is Folic Acid Awareness week, and for many women of childbearing age, they may not be getting enough. This particular nutrient is important because it prevents many birth defects, particularly neural tube disorders. The neural tube eventually develops into the baby's spinal cord and brain, and taking folic acid can prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. Getting 400 mcg, the US recommended daily allowance, of folic acid each day for at least a month before conception can reduce the risk of NTDs by up to 70 percent. It also helps prevent certain heart defects and cleft lip and palate. This is why doctors recommend that all women of childbearing age take a supplement, or eat folate-rich foods - it may be a month or more before a woman even realizes she's pregnant. As pregnancy progresses, obstetricians typically recommend prenatal vitamins that contain plenty of folic acid - 600 mcg or more, depending on your family history. With the addition of folic acid to many of the foods and drinks we consume, birth defects have decreased.