Let's Chat: Vitamin Edition

When it comes to hormonal birth control, there's a lot of discrepancies regarding living a healthy lifestyle. Many people think you can just take your birth control, and live as you normally would- but, this isn't necessarily the case.

Today we're talking about the many vitamin deficiencies given to us by hormonal birth control, how to get those vitamins naturally, or if you're into a different approach, my favorite supplements.

Vitamins B6 and B12

B vitamins are responsible for helping enzymes in our bodies do their jobs and are important for a wide range of cellular functions, like breaking down carbohydrates and transporting nutrients throughout the body. The B vitamins play an inter-related role in keeping our brains running properly.

I prefer taking the B-complex supplement from CareOf, but these vitamins can also be found in leafy green vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, spring greens and spinach.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays many crucial roles in the body, such as supporting muscle and nerve function and energy production. Low magnesium levels usually don't cause symptoms. However, chronically low levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

Much like the B-complex, I like to take a magnesium capsule from CareOf, but you can also find magnesium in whole grains and dark-green, leafy vegetables, low-fat milk and yogurt, dried beans and legumes (such as soybeans, baked beans, lentils, and peanuts) and nuts (such as almonds and cashews).

Vitamin D

Vitamin D It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has long been known to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus; both are critical for building bone. Also, laboratory studies show that vitamin D can reduce cancer cell growth, help control infections and reduce inflammation.

I prefer to get my vitamin D naturally by spending time outdoors in the sun, and eating seafood like salmon, tuna, and also plant-based milks!

Folate

Folate helps to form DNA and RNA and is involved in protein metabolism. It plays a key role in breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid that can exert harmful effects in the body if it is present in high amounts.

I prefer getting in my folate naturally as well, by eating a large amount of dark, leafy green vegetables such as turnip greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, asparagus, brussels sprouts, and broccoli.