Contraceptives and cottage cheese

It may sound strange to associate cottage cheese with oral contraceptives, but there is actually some logic to it. Cottage cheese contains the nutrients that can be depleted due to long-term use of contraceptive pills.

Women who take or have taken the pill have probably noticed several side effects that this form of contraception causes. Food cravings and general increase in appetite are the most commonly observed ones. However, certain nutrient deficiencies, which are less visible and sometimes hard to diagnose, are also among the common side effects of oral contraceptives.

Vitamin deficiency

Extensive research has shown that the B complex vitamins are the first to be depleted while using oral contraceptives. This group of vitamins is essential for a healthy nervous system and for the growth and regeneration of damaged cells and tissues. It is recommended to take a strong supplement of B complex vitamins alongside oral contraceptives.

Vitamins C and K may also become deficient due to the pill. They too can be taken in the form of supplements, but it is always better to provide them through natural food sources. Cottage cheese may just be the right food to do this.

Tyrosine deficiency

Tyrosine is an amino acid that has several functions in the body, the main one being the maintenance of the thyroid gland. Oral contraceptives often reduce the levels of tyrosine in the body and this leads to moodiness, sleepiness and depression that are often observed in women who take them.

Luckily, cottage cheese helps with this too. It is estimated that this dairy product is the highest food source of tyrosine and just one cup of it per day provides 1.5 grams of this important amino acid.

Zinc deficiency

Another pill-related deficiency that can be solved by increasing the consumption of cottage cheese is zinc deficiency. This essential mineral is very important for good health. It promotes healing of the wounds, speeds up the recovery process after diseases, restores the energy and boosts the immune system. Zinc deficiency associated with oral contraceptives is one of the major causes of depression, anxiety and mood swings. In addition, zinc reduces copper levels, which is important because copper, like iron, often tends to peak and reach too high levels in women who take oral contraceptives.

This can be solved by taking zinc supplements, 20 to 50 milligrams per day, or simply by eating more cottage cheese.

It is clear that this tasty dairy product can be very useful for women who take oral contraceptives and it should be a part of the daily diet.