Birth Control Pills and Nutrition

Hormones are very much involved in pregnancy, from conception through labor. Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, can prevent pregnancy by adjusting certain hormone levels. They are among the most popular and effective means of birth control. There are many different kinds to choose from, and your doctor can recommend which one is right for you.

However, these pills can also deplete your body of other nutrients, including zinc and vitamins B12, B6 and B9, and elevate levels of nutrients such as copper. The following list of nutrients can be extremely helpful for anyone taking birth control.

• Alpha-lipoic acid
• B-complex vitamins
• Carnitine
• Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)
• Inositol
• Magnesium
• Phosphatidylcholine (Lecithin)
• Zinc