Generally, birth control pills have been taken as safe because women that use these pills seldom know about the side effects and risks associated with this medicine. Many issues like weight-loss resistance and unresolved digestion are often linked to the birth control pills after side effects. Taking Birth control pills is undoubtedly your personal choice; the purpose of this article is to make you aware of its side effects and provide you with some professional tips to heal your gut after its use.
Is the Birth Control pill bad for your gut?
According to the research, birth control pills affect the overall gut flora and estrogen metabolism as well. As a result, it results in anxiety, depression, weight loss resistance, different digestive issues, and an increased risk of inflammatory diseases.
A study of over 75000 women found that women using birth control pills have higher risks of developing Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease. Besides, birth control pills can result in a 60% increase of endogenous estrogen and a 2 to 3 folds increase in (SHBG) Sex-hormone binding globulin.
These pills harm the gut flora in many ways that increase the risk of leaky gut. In this condition, our intestine lining gets damaged, which results in the leakage of bacteria, toxins, and food particles. This condition can result in:
- Diarrhea
- Mental fog
- Acne
- Acid reflux
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Brain fog
- Constipation
- Indigestion
It can lead to sensitivities to specific food, skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and some severe thyroid and inflammatory bowel disease concerns.
How do I heal my gut after birth control?
Here are a few things recommended by the leading experts in women’s medicine and help many women support their bodies after birth control. If you have suffered from any of the symptoms, it is essential to research before consulting a professional.
Diet
When it comes to healing, food has a vital role.
Eat good fats
Healthy fats like salmon, olive oil, avocado, macadamia nuts are beneficial for gut health.
Eliminate dairy
Elimination of dairy products helps reduce acne and heal the gut. You can see the improvement after the elimination of dairy products from your diet.
Eat liver-friendly food
Birth control pills put a lot of stress on your liver. Liver-friendly food will help detoxify food; some of these liver-friendly foods are cabbage, carrots, onions, kale, broccoli, artichokes, sprouts, grapefruits, turmeric, and some green leafy vegetables.
Avoid alcohol
To heal your gut, eliminate alcohol for at least 30 days and give your liver a significant break from processing toxins.
Stay hydrated
Water is an essential part of life. The amount of water that a person needs to stay hydrated varies from person to person. However, 6 to 8 glasses of water are the average goal. While plain water is the best to keep hydrated, some other drinks and juicy fruits are also beneficial.
Eat probiotics
Fermented foods like Kombucha, sauerkraut, coconut yogurt, and kimchi are rich in good bacteria beneficial to gut health.
Get proper sleep
Several studies relate poor sleep habits with several diseases. Conversely, if you have a regular sleep-wake schedule, you will feel energized and refreshed even if you alter your sleep schedule by an hour or more.
Control your stress
Physiological stress is related to IBS and some gut inflammatory diseases. For example, many of us destress ourselves by talking to our favorite person. Some like to spend time alone with a coffee. In my case, yoga and deep breathing meditation work a lot.
Does birth control cause a leaky gut?
Undoubtedly birth control has a side effect on your gut health and can result in intestinal hyperpermeability, commonly known as leaky gut. It’s because large undigested proteins make their way through the intestinal lining and result in leakage. A leaky gut can be the primary cause of autoimmune disease.
Women who are taking birth control pills are at higher risk of Crohn’s disease due to this reason. Besides food sensitivities, hormonal birth control pills can imbalance your gut that can lead to yeast outgrowth.
Is it OK to take probiotics with birth control?
Probiotics don’t affect the function of birth control pills and are safe to take with probiotics. They are friendly yeast and bacteria that give benefits to our bodies and health.
Probiotics aren’t a drug. Generally, there are trillions of bacteria in our gut, and these microbes are known as the microbiome. By taking a probiotic, you are promoting gut bacteria that are beneficial and contribute to gut health.