Many women rely on birth control pills to help them plan their families as well as to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some women who take birth control may experience loss of certain vitamins or an inability to properly absorb all necessary vitamins. According to Elizabeth Somer, author of "Nutrition for Women: How Eating Right Can Help You Look and Feel Your Best," you may need to take supplements because your birth control pills block the body's tissues from getting enough vitamins or break them down too quickly for the vitamins to be useful.
Vitamin B6
Many women who take birth control have lower blood and tissue levels of vitamin B6 compared to women who do not take birth control. Vitamin B6 is essential for mood regulation, which is one reason why you may experience mood shifts and changes at various times during your menstrual cycle. A vitamin B6 supplement is one way to elevate your levels and reap the mood benefits this nutrient offers. Adding some foods rich in vitamin B6 may also help you compensate for what is lost due to taking birth control. Eat leafy greens such as spinach, squash, peppers and melons to add several milligrams of vitamin B6 to your diet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps you fight off infection and keep your entire body healthy and functioning normally. Taking birth control pills may block your body's ability to absorb all of the vitamin C from the foods you eat or may cause the vitamin C to break down too quickly so that your body is not able to make use of it all, report Alan H. Pressman and Sheila Buff, authors of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals." If you take birth control pills, it is necessary to spread out your intake of vitamin C throughout the day so that your supply does not become depleted. Take a dose of vitamin C with each meal to ensure that you are able to hold onto what you need for good health. Adding citrus fruits, red bell pepper, berries, kiwi and papaya to your daily diet may help keep your levels up as well.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is necessary for the health of your neurological system, report Jon Zonderman and Laurel Shader, authors of "Birth Control Pills," but you may be deficient if you take birth control. If you are planning to stop taking birth control soon in order to start a family, folic acid is crucial because it helps prevent many neurological and brain birth disorders. A folic acid supplement is a common way to consume this important B vitamin. Eating foods rich in folic acid can also help. Add spinach, orange juice and fortified breakfast cereals to your diet to help you increase your intake.
References
- "Nutrition for Women: How Eating Right Can Help You Look and Feel Your Best"; Elizabeth Somer; 2002
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals"; Alan H. Pressman and Sheila Buff; 2007
- "Birth Control Pills"; Jon Zonderman and Laurel Shader; 2006
