Wellness Unmasked Weekly Rundown: Trump Was Right: The Hidden Link Between Pregnancy, Folate, and Child Health

Dr. Nicole Saphier unpacks the controversy sparked by President Trump’s remarks on Tylenol use during pregnancy and the broader discussion it ignited about maternal health. She explains why folate (folic acid) is essential—not just for expecting mothers, but for everyone—and how deficiencies may contribute to developmental risks like autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. From the dangers of over-the-counter medications to simple, nutrient-rich dietary swaps, Dr. Saphier shares practical advice for boosting folate naturally and supporting long-term health. Wellness Unmasked is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Tuesday & Friday. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Wellness un Mass. I'm doctor Nicole Saffire and
this is your weekly rundown. It has been such a
busy week ever since the press conference heard around the
world where President Trump started talking about the potential links
between tile and all use and pregnancy and its association
with babies being born with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.

(00:21):
Taking a deep breath from the turmoil of the week,
I think there were two big messages again that came
out of that press conference that I want to just
hone in a little bit today. One, do not take
any medication, whether you need a prescription for it or not. Lightly,
every medication comes with risks and it also comes with
potential benefits. You never know which one or how it's

(00:44):
going to affect you. So just because you don't need
a prescription doesn't mean you shouldn't talk to your doctor
about it, because the reality is all medications have risks,
whether it's tile and all, motrin, aspirin, benadryl, even vitamins,
they come with risk. So please talk to your doctor,
use medication sparingly. At the end of the day, we
all want to try and get to the healthiest place possible.

(01:05):
So we are less reliant on taking medications that should
always be the goal. The other big thing that came
out of that press conference was that they talked about
a possible treatment for autism. One is lucovorn that's the
medication name. But the overarching message here was that pregnant
women's diet is too low in folic acid. Babies being

(01:28):
born with autism spectrum disorder tended to have lower amounts
of folate. They were even some were found to have
autoantibodies against the receptors that uptake folate. So as a physician,
I cannot emphasize enough how critical folate often known as
follic acid when it's in the supplement form is for
your health. Fullate is a B vitamin. It supports DNA repair,

(01:50):
red blood cell formation, and healthy cell growth. It's particularly
important for women of childbearing age because it helps prevent
serious birth defects. The truth is we all need it
daily for optimal energy and cellular health. Here's the problem.
Our diets are just not giving us enough. The recommended
daily amount for an adult is around four hundred micrograms

(02:11):
of dietary foley equivalents. Now, pregnant women need even more
about six hundred micrograms. Yet many Americans fall short because
while we lean on heavily processed foods stripped of natural folate.
Even with fortified grains, deficiencies are still very common, especially
in people who skip those leafy greens and legumes. So

(02:34):
why does this matter? Well, fully is not just about pregnancy.
Low levels are linked to anemia, fatigue, and even higher
risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Because foley is
central to how our DNA repairs itself, it plays a
role in healthy aging and lowering long term disease risk
for all of us. Good news, it's easy to boost

(02:55):
spollight naturally. And this is my big take home. This
is my public service announcement of the week. Just one
cup of spinach gives you almost half of your daily needs. Lentils,
black beans, asparagus, avocados, and even some fruits like strawberries
and some others can give you some fol eate. If
you enjoy salmon or eggs, those can help too. A

(03:15):
simple swap like adding a spinach salad at lunch instead
of romaine lettuce, or blending blueberries and avocado into a smoothie.
I love morning smoothies. Why don't you throw in some
chia seeds and some flax to get that daily fiber
as well. We all need that. It can just make
a big difference, I promise. And for women who are
thinking about becoming pregnant, a prenatal vitamin with folic acid

(03:38):
is absolutely essential. But those prenatal vitamins, that's not enough.
You gotta up your greens, ladies. I don't know what
else to tell you. You have to do it. Whatever
you got to do, put it in your calendar. Eat
more greens, bottom line, fully is not optional, it's foundational.
Make it part of your daily routine and your future self. Well,
thank you. And I'm not going to give.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
President Trump credit for this little public service announcement, but
you know what I'm actually going to because he brought
the conversation of women and foll aped into the mix.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
So that's right, ladies, Trump was right about this. Eat
more greens, get more full aped. Thanks for listening to
Wellness on Masks on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
Follow Wellness on mass with doctor Nicole Safire and start
listening on the free Iheartradios app wherever you get your
podcast and i'll see you next time.