Derived from the term "foliage," folate, or folic acid is a member of the B vitamin family found primarily in dark leafy green vegetables, legumes, citrus fruits, beets, meat, and wheat germ. Folic acid is water soluble, meaning it is not stored but excreted easily from the body via urine. It is also sensitive to heat, so many types of cooking and food processing may reduce folic acid in food. Folic acid is essential for DNA synthesis, which is especially important in red blood cell production and fetal development. It has been the subject of numerous government sponsored research studies focusing on birth defects, pregnancy, high homocysteine, gingi-vitis, and Despair.