Many Americans have begun taking folic acid supplements thinking that it can protect against colon cancer and also cut a person's risk of stroke and heart disease.

In the past, animal studies led researchers to believe that folic acid had these beneficial effects. The National Institutes of Heath funded a clinical trial that enrolled more than 1,000 men and women who previously had polyps removed from their colons.

Those in the study were randomly assigned to take daily pills containing either 1 milligram of folic acid or a placebo. The study showed that those who took the folic acid got just as many new colon polyps as those who took the placebo pills.

Robert Sandler, M.D., chief of the division of gastroenterology and hematology, told WebMD, "We are disappointed and surprised that it didn't work. In fact, there was some evidence that folic acid increased cancer risk."

Besides preventing birth defects in the brain and spine and other congenital abnormalities, the folic acid found in prenatal multivitamins has now been shown to prevent cancer in children whose mothers take the vitamins during pregnancy.

A new Canadian study, appearing online in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, estimates prenatal multivitamin supplements can save hundreds of children each year in Canada -- where only 40 to 50 percent of women take prenatal vitamins -- from developing leukemia, brain tumors, or neuroblastoma. And the vitamins may prevent 900 cases of pediatric leukemia and more than 300 brain tumor cases annually in the United States.

It's not clear which vitamins or minerals, and in what amounts, could be protecting babies from cancer, but it's possible folic acid -- critical for cellular function -- may be acting alone.

One thing is certain, says lead investigator Dr. Gideon Koren -- this is one inexpensive way to prevent cancer.

The evidence is stacking up. And it seems almost everyone will soon agree that exercising can help prevent a return of cancer for those who have already done battle with the disease.

The American Cancer Society just issued a report updating nutrition and physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors. Exercise tops the list of recommendations.

For some types of cancers, exercising for just one to three hours per week can lower the risk of cancer recurrence and death, as well as death from all causes. Exercise has also been shown to improve fitness, diminish fatigue, and boost quality of life for survivors.

The report also states that while a vegetarian diet may be healthful in some ways, there is no direct proof that the diet can prevent cancer recurrence. Survivors who do choose a vegetarian lifestyle should ensure they are receiving an adequate intake of nutrients.

A standard multivitamin and mineral supplement equivalent to 100 percent of the Daily Value can help survivors meet their nutrient needs when it's difficult to eat a healthy diet. Some supplements -- such as those high in folic acid or antioxidants -- may be harmful during cancer treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, food safety is especially important for cancer survivors, especially during treatment that causes immunosuppression.

And then there's alcohol. Alcohol can affect the risk for new primary cancers and should be used sparingly -- or not at all.

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that is found in supplements and added to foods.

The latest research has shown that the risk of developing colon cancer is linked to a diet low in folate. Study authors report that this is the first study to directly connect the two. The research was done on mice. Investigators report none of the mice fed a control diet developed cancer, but one in four mice on the folate-deficient diet developed tumors. The study reveals this may happen because a low level of folate may cause an increase in DNA damage. Study authors caution that while these results are encouraging, more research is needed on humans to know for sure the protective effect of folate for colorectal cancer.

Researchers point out they don't think its necessary to eat excessive amounts of folate, but they do recommend using diet supplements to meet the daily recommended amount. You can find folate in leafy green vegetables, like spinach and turnip greens, fruits such as citrus fruits and juices. Dried beans and peas are all natural sources of folate.

Important research development in regard to the glucose controlling properties of avocado's by inhibiting glucokinase responsible for glycolysis that in turn retards and reduces tumor growth shows that avocados are not just beneficial for keeping a healthy heart when they are consumed in place of saturated-fat containing foods. Avocados are a good source of fiber and fiber may help maintain a healthy heart and digestion. Avocados provide more than 25 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins, and folic acid and provides beneficial phytochemicals such as glutathione, beta-sitosterol, and lutein. Phytonutrients are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases.

Vicki's Avocado & Shrimp Salad
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 
1/2 tablespoon Texas Pete hot sauce
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 cup olive oil 
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
6 cups water
1 Pound peeled and deveined medium sized shrimp
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
1 Head Romaine Lettuce
3 medium to large Fresh Avocados not too soft (diced in 1 inch pieces)
Lemon Wedges and Tortilla Chips for garnishing

Boil water and add old bay seasoning and bay leaves. Add shrimp to boiling water and cook until whitish pink or until they lose their translucent color. Don't over cook. It only takes 1 to 2 minutes in boiling water to cook the shrimp. Immediately remove and spread out on a large plate and place in refrigerator to cool down and stop the cooking process.

In another mixing bowl add the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cilantro, salt, and hot sauce and whisk together. After shrimp has chilled for about 30 minutes, drain and then toss together with the onions, bell pepper, celery and tomatoes. Stir lemon juice mixture over the shrimp and vegetables and then lightly toss in the diced avocado pieces so they will not mash.

Cover plate with whole leaves of Romaine lettuce and scoop a helping of the salad into the middle. Garnish with lemon wedges on the side and corn tortilla chips. (I like the blue corn tortilla chips)

According to the National Cancer Institute, asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, one of the body's most potent cancer fighters. Additionally, asparagus is high in rutin, which is valuable in strengthening the blood vessels and is great for the heart.

Asparagus is packed with nutrients and easy to prepare ahead for a crowd. One serving of asparagus is low in calories, very low in sodium and is a great source of potassium. Asparagus is an excellent source of folic acid and is a fairly significant source of Vitamin C, Thiamin, and Vitamin B6. It contains no fat or cholesterol of dietary significance.

Vicki's Sesame Ginger Asparagus Salad

2 lb. fresh asparagus cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces.
5 tsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. honey
2 tsp. sesame seed oil (I prefer toasted sesame oil)
2 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
1/2 tsp. ginger powder
1 tbsp. minced garlic

Cover asparagus in salted boiling water (1 tablespoon sea salt). Cook until tender. Rinse immediately in cold water to stop cooking process and pat dry. Mix other ingredients in small mixing bowl and pour over asparagus. Can serve hot or chilled.

Past research has shown that folic acid, a synthetic form of folate, might be beneficial in protecting against the development of a number of cancers, including breast, prostate and colon cancers. New research is offering more in the way of substantial study results that show folic acid might be essential in preventing the progression of all cancers. And what an easy fix folate, or folic acid is, since it can be found in a number of whole foods or simply taken as a daily vitamin supplement.

According to nutritional experts, folate deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the United States. Researchers continue to discover evidence of the link between folate deficiency, serum homocysteine elevations, and a number of cancers.

Folate is found in dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, citrus fruits, citrus juices, fortified breakfast cereals and grain products. The highest concentration of folate is found in black-eyed peas, spinach, great northern beans, asparagus and broccoli. Research found folic acid in supplements is better absorbed by the body than the folate naturally occurring in foods.