Hormonal birth control pills are a popular choice of many modern women, helping to proactively plan for reproduction and stabilize family life. However, not everyone knows that what we eat and drink every day, including functional foods, sometimes silently breaks the effectiveness of that small pill.
According to pharmacist Sara Hoffman, PharmD (USA), the author of the article is medically censored by Femi Aremu, PharmD, some food and drug interactions can cause hormones in birth control pills to be poorly absorbed or metabolized too quickly in the liver.
Herbs, functional foods, "sweet traps" for hormones
Topping the list of things to avoid is Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), a herb commonly used to support mood. Pharmacist Femi Aremu, currently working in the clinical medicine field in the United States, warns: "St. John's wort activates liver enzymes to break down birth control hormones faster than usual, causing hormone levels to drop below protective levels". The consequences may be abnormal bleeding and the risk of unwanted pregnancy.
Active charcoal, which often appears in detoxifying and gas reduction products, is also a worrying name. Active charcoal has the ability to bind to drugs in the digestive tract, preventing the body from absorbing birth control pills, especially dangerous if used near the time of taking the pill.
Functional foods from soybeans and flaxseeds contain phytoestrogens, a plant compound that mimics estrogen, which can disrupt endocrine balance if used in concentrated form. Meanwhile, high-dose garlic tablets can affect liver enzymes that metabolize contraceptive hormones. The common point of these products is: natural, but not harmless when used incorrectly.
Familiar food and drinks but should not be subjective
Not only functional foods, some familiar foods also need to be noted. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase estrogen levels in the blood, making users prone to nausea, headaches, and chest tightness. Contraception effectiveness usually does not decrease, but side effects can be more obvious, especially in sensitive people.
Alcohol does not directly lose the effect of birth control pills, but drinking too much can cause users to forget to take the pill or vomit after drinking, which is enough to reduce protection. Alcohol also increases dizziness and nausea, which are already side effects of the drug.
A little noticed point is high doses of vitamin C. According to Sara Hoffman, taking vitamin C far exceeding the recommended daily needs can increase estrogen levels, leading to bloating, headaches, nausea, although it does not reduce contraception effectiveness.
Finally, weight loss, anxiety reduction, and sleep support supplements often contain complex herbal mixtures. Some ingredients such as kava or concentrated green tea have been found to interact with the cytochrome P450 enzyme system in the liver, the "transit station" of many drugs, including birth control pills.
Experts recommend that women who are taking birth control pills should fully inform their doctors about all medications and functional foods they are using. When there is still suspicion, the safest option is still to limit or avoid using supplements that are not really necessary. Maintain the habit of taking medication on time, eating moderately and being alert to "miraculous" advertisements, that is how to protect yourself intelligently and sustainably.
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