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The 10 Best Foods Highest in Vitamin B9 (Folate)

Written by Daisy Whitbread, MScN
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The 10 Best Foods Highest in Vitamin B9 (Folate)

Vitamin B9 (folate) is required for numerous body functions including DNA synthesis and repair, cell division, and cell growth. (1)

Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9 found in fortified foods, like cereals, and supplements. (1)

A deficiency of folate can lead to anemia in adults and slower development in children. For pregnant women, folate is especially important for proper fetal development. (1)

High folate foods include beans, lentils, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, avocado, mangoes, lettuce, sweet corn, and oranges, and whole wheat bread. (2) The current daily value (% DV) for folate (Vitamin B9) is 400μg. (3)

Below are the 10 best foods high in folate, for more see the complete list of over 200 foods high in folate.

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List of High Folate Foods

1Edamame (Green Soybeans)
Green Soybeans (Edamame)

More Soy Products High in Folate

-18% DV in 1 cup of firm tofu
-12% DV in a 16oz glass of soymilk
2Lentils
Lentils

Beans High in Folate

-92% DV in 1 cup of roman beans
-89% DV in 1 cup of black-eyed peas
-74% DV in 1 cup of pinto beans
-71% DV in 1 cup of chickpeas
-64% DV in 1 cup of black beans

See all beans high in folate.
3Asparagus
Asparagus
See all 200 vegetables high in folate.
4Spinach
A Bowl of Spinach

More Dark Leafy Greens High in Folate

-42% DV in 1 cup of cooked turnip greens
-17% DV per cup of cooked Pak Choi
-8%DV in 1 cup of cooked collard greens

See all 200 vegetables high in folate.
5Broccoli
Broccoli Stalk
See all 200 vegetables high in folate.
6 Avocados
Half an avocado
7Mangos
Mangoes

More Fruits High in Folate

-20% DV in 1 cup of guavas
-17% DV in 1 cup of pomegranate
-13% DV in 1 cup of papaya
-11% DV in 1 cup of sliced kiwifruit
-10% DV in 1 cup of sliced strawberries

See all fruits high in folate.
8Lettuce
Lettuce

More Salad Greens High in Folate

-18% DV per cup of endive
-10% DV in 1 cup of butterhead lettuce
-10% DV in 1 cup of garden cress

See all 200 vegetables high in folate.
9 Sweet Corn
Yellow Sweet Corn
10Oranges
Slices of orange
See all fruits high in folate.

See All 200 Foods High in Folate (B9)

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A printable list of foods high in folate. High folate foods include beans, lentils, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, avocado, mangoes, lettuce, sweet corn, and oranges, and whole wheat bread.

How Much Folate Do You Need?

The current daily value (%DV) for folate is 400μg per day (3) and is meant as a general measure for all people. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and adequate intake (AI) are more refined measures which account for age and life situation. (1)

In the case of folate, the DV is much higher than the AI and RDA to account for problems with absorption, and because excess folate easily managed by the body.

Here are the RDAs and AIs for Folate. The AI is for infants and the RDA for anyone older. (1)
AI:
  • Birth - 6 months: 65μg
  • 7 - 12 months: 80μg

RDA:
  • 1 - 3 years: 80μg
  • 4 - 8 years: 65μg
  • 9 - 13 years: 80μg
  • 14 - 18 years: 65μg
  • 19+ years: 80μg
  • Pregnancy: 600μg
  • Lactaction: 500μg

Health Benefits of Folate (Vitamin B9)

  • Protection Against Heart Disease - Adequate levels of vitamin B9, B6, and B12 have been shown to lower levels of a protein in the blood: homocysteine. Lower levelsof homocysteine has been shown to improve endothelial function, which in turn may boost cardiovascular health and decrease risk of heart attacks. (4)
  • Protect and Repair DNA to Reduce Cancer Risk and Slow Aging - Folate (Vitamin B9) is essential for the maintenance and repair of DNA which helps to prevent cancer. Several studies have associated diets low in folate with increased risk of breast, pancreatic, and colon cancer. (5,6).
  • Decreased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease - Studies suggest that consuming adequate amounts of vitamin B9 (Folate) over a period of at least 10 years results in a decreased risk of contracting Alzheimer's Disease. (7,8 )

People at Risk of a Folate (Vitamin B9) Deficiency

  • Alcoholics - Alcohol interferes with absorption of folate and increases excretion of folate via the kidneys. (1)
  • Pregnant and Lactating Women - Women who are about to become, or are, pregnant need to be sure they have adequate folate in order to reduce risk of premature births, underweight births, and neural tube defects in their infants. (1)
  • People with Malabsorption - People with tropical sprue, celiac disease, or inflammatory bowel disease are at risk of poor folate absorption. (1)
  • People with the MTHFR polymorphism - People with this genetic variant cannot properly use folate, and will show signs of deficiency such as weakness, fatigue, headache, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. (1)

Folate and Vitamin B12

If you take folic acid (vitamin B9) supplements beware the interaction with vitamin B12. Increased folic acid can cure the anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, but cannot cure the neural damage. It is important to maintain both adequate levels of folic acid and vitamin B12. (1)

Other Vitamin B Foods

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Data Sources and References

  1. Office Of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet: Folate
  2. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28.
  3. NIH: Dietary Supplement Label Database
  4. Folic Acid Fortification of the Food Supply Potential Benefits and Risks for the Elderly Population
  5. Folic acid as a cancer-preventing agent.
  6. Folic acid and colorectal cancer prevention: molecular mechanisms and epidemiological evidence (Review).
  7. Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease with high folate intake: the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
  8. Vitamin B(12) and folate in relation to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
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