Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of birth defects of the spine and brain by 50 to 60 percent. "I thought it was pretty incredible that something so simple could help so much," says O'Dell. "I am not planning to get pregnant any time soon, but if it does happen, the folic acid will be in my body to help prevent birth defects. I learned you can get folic acid through certain foods like green leafy vegetables, orange juice, enriched breads, beans and grains. You can also get it through a multivitamin. A lot of people don't know about folic acid because the research wasn't widely known until the early 1990s."

O'Dell also understands how a change in anyone's diet, especially for a busy woman like herself, can be a challenge. But she reminds women that the benefits outweigh the inconvenience, and changing a routine can be easy. "I think everybody can take time out in the morning to drink orange juice," she says. "Make an effort to get fortified cereals and breads. Folic acid comes in a lot of food, and taking a multivitamin doesn't take long."