Any woman thinking about getting pregnant in the next three to six months should start taking a daily multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid.  Getting enough of this B vitamin before and early on in pregnancy can reduce brain and spine birth defects by up to 70 percent.

Starting the habit now will make it easier to remember once you’re expecting.

Excellent food sources of folate include:

• Asparagus
• Bran flakes
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Chick peas
• Dried beans
• Lentils
• Spinach.