If you love plants, you know there are many different signs of nutrient deficiency. Like our plants, our bodies can give us signs as well.
Many medications can affect how efficiently your body uses and absorbs vital nutrients.
We don't know if oral contraceptives (OC's) are causing a nutrient imbalance in the USA. Because we don't test our nutrients regularly. People guess.
But in Korea, a study followed 110,000 women for many years. They found that women that used OC's for more than six months had a 12% increased risk of obesity.
The risk increased, especially among OC users who did not meet their micronutrient intake.
The micronutrient intake of OC users vs. non of users was significant.
Women on the pill who feel off should wonder why. Can their symptoms be linked to nutrient deficiencies?
For OC users, the intake levels for:
calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, B1, B2, C, niacin, and folate, selenium were below the recommended levels.
Does your doctor recommend testing or supplementation for your nutrient intake?
African American women can suffer from more significant nutrient deficiencies. In iron, folic acid, zinc, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium, and imbalance of Omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fatty acid than caucasian women.
It is well-known that nutrient deficiencies in antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc have been associated with obesity.
The longer you are on birth control, the more the depletion can compound before it is noticeable.
What are these nutrients? What role do they play?
RIBOFLAVIN or B2 (Eat Eggs!) - maintains your body's energy supply. By breaking down what you eat. It converts carbs into ATP.
ZINC (Eat meat, shellfish, legumes!) Cashews are a great source of zinc & magnesium.
Zinc help fends off viruses by binding to the receptors in your nose cavity, making it harder for viruses to attach.
Zinc is essential for enzymes.
Zinc deficiency may be either inherited or acquired and may affect multiple organ systems. Patients may experience diarrhea, immunological effects, and delayed wound healing. Abnormalities in taste and smell may occur.
Folate = B9 = (Eat Spinach!) naturally occurring and necessary for early pregnancy and red blood cell formation.
Folic acid = synthetic form
Too little, you can feel symptoms of anemia—fatigue, pale skin, weakness, irritability.
Folate can be low in people with celiac, IBS, and MTHFR gene mutations.
Keep in mind Folic Acid is a delicate balance. It's good for preventing cancer in healthy people but can promote tumors in tose with cancerous or precancerous cells.
Vitamin C (Eat Tomatoes! With half the sugar as oranges )
- repairs body tissues, forms collagen, absorbs iron.
You can have too little Vitamin C, bumpy skin, easy bruising, slow healing wounds, and damaged skin.
Niacin (Eat Chicken Breast, Tuna!)
Niacin Deficiency- headaches, depression, rough skin that turns brown.
The pill can increase different nutrients:
Iron - Too much iron can be harmful can lead to hair loss
Copper
Vitamin K - too high can interact with anti-coagulation medicines.
For more information about nutrients and the biological pathways they impact: Guo et al. (2017)
Resources:
Park B, Kim J (2016) Oral Contraceptive Use, Micronutrient Deficiency, and Obesity among Premenopausal Females in Korea: The Necessity of Dietary Supplements and Food Intake Improvement. PLoS ONE 11(6): e0158177. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158177
Palmery M, Saraceno A, Vaiarelli A, Carlomagno G. Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Jul;17(13):1804-13. PMID: 23852908.
Guo, Emily L, and Rajani Katta. “Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use.” Dermatology practical & conceptual vol. 7,1 1-10. 31 Jan. 2017, doi:10.5826/dpc.0701a01
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-birth-control-pills-affect-your-nutritional-needs/