Interest-free loans. If you loan a significant amount of money to your kids, say, enough to buy a house, itâs important to charge interest. If you donât, the IRS can determine that interest you should have charged was a gift.
Prevention. Folic acid, taken in supplement form starting at least one month before conception and continuing through the first trimester of pregnancy, greatly reduces the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
B Vitamins. The eight B vitamins help maintain metabolism, muscle tone, and a sharp mind, says Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., a nutrition professor at the University of Maine at Orono. Most important for young women is B9 (folic acid), which keeps red blood cells healthy and guards against cancer and birth defects. Recommended daily folate dosage: 400 micrograms (mcg); 600 mcg if you're pregnant.