Menstrual cramps
Endometriosis
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Aside from birth control,  many women and girls go on the Pill to help control the above symptoms.  While the Pill may seem to help, is the best solution to add synthetic estrogen or is there a root cause to these issues?  Furthermore, by taking the Pill, are we creating more problems down the road?

There may be many root causes, but let us explore two common sources of the above imbalances. 

For acne, a common root source is high carbohydrate consumption.  Do you know anyone who is on the Pill to control acne and they seem to eat cereal for breakfast, pizza or sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner and maybe candy in between?  Of course while eating large amounts of carbs may affect everyone differently, it does seem to be a common trigger for acne (yes, for boys, too!).  Perhaps altering dietary habits to eat protein at every meal may be the first course of action for teens suffering with acne.

The other four symptoms on the above list are due to hormonal imbalance.  One possible root cause is the often- overlooked thyroid.  Simply stated, your thyroid gland produces hormones that affect every cell in your body with one of its main duties being to create energy for you. Thyroid disorders translate to many other symptoms that range from fatigue to pain to mental disorders to sex hormone imbalance to name just a few.  We will discuss thyroid disorders more in depth in next week's Let Us HEALTH You newsletter, but thyroid disorders may influence the above symptoms as well.

Most of us want simple solutions for our discomfort.  However, if we don't treat the source, we could be adding even more symptoms to the mix.

In Drug Muggers by Suzy Cohen, Registered Pharmacist, she says that "...contraceptives are the most dangerous  drug muggers I can think of because of their nutrient depletion effects on your body range from fatigue and weight gain to stroke and heart attack." 

In her book, Cohen talks about how certain drugs deplete vital nutrients and vitamins.  To follow are key vitamins and minerals that are "mugged" by oral contraceptives which typically contribute to deficiencies.

• Iodine-needed to make thyroid hormone
• Magnesium-deficiency may result in depression, anxiety, high blood pressure or chronic pain
• Zinc-deficiency may result in weight gain, hypothyroidism, loss of libido
• Vitamin B (complex)-deficiency may result in depression, poor memory, muscle pain, spasms, fatigue, headache, etc.
• Vitamin C-makes happy hormones, supports immune system and keeps us looking youthful