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Easy to take, great for contraception, regular pain free periods, and clear skin, the oral contraceptive is certainly a wonderful medicine.
However, care must be taken with your health and wellbeing while on this medication to be sure you don’t upset their balance.
Side Effect City Most side effects of the Pill are bothersome, but not serious. They include breast tenderness, headaches, nausea, and depression.
Health strategy: Most side effects go away after a few months, as your body adjusts. Some symptoms can be helped by increasing your intake of B vitamins, most particularly vitamin B6 and folic acid. These are found in wholegrain bread, brown rice, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables. Healtheries B Complex Supreme is a good support for these symptoms, and may help to ease low moods and breast symptoms.
Risky Business In some cases, taking the Pill can raise your risk for heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as blood clots in the legs, lungs, heart, or brain. For those who smoke and eat foods high in saturated fats there is a much greater risk.
Health strategy: Start losing those ciggies and steer clear of takeaways, crisps, chips, icecream, cheese, and fried foods. Increase heart friendly foods such as yoghurt, tinned fish, raw fruit, nuts, seeds, cottage cheese, and wholegrain crispbreads and rice cakes.
Love your Liver Because your liver has to break down the extra hormones from the pill, it's time to give it a break from all the usual detoxing work it does for you. You’ll feel less sluggish and your digestive system will be more regular if you treat your liver right.
Health strategy: Ditch the alcohol and caffeine. Swap your vodka for a pure health enhancing fruit juice, and your coffee, cola, or energy drink for a warming chai latte or refreshing fruit tea.
Metabolism Matters As your body adjusts to hormonal changes created by The Pill, tiredness and weight gain may occur.
Health strategy: Keep a daily exercise programme going. Exercise keeps your energy levels up and helps to prevent excess weight gain. Aim for 30 to 90 minutes per day of walking, jogging, gym work, swimming or cycling. Don’t want to go out into the cold snow? Then exercise DVDs are the way for you. From kick boxing to yoga, or pilates to aerobics – there will be something to keep you active and trim.
Before you pop your next pill
Have a yearly check-up with your doctor and ask for a blood pressure check, cholesterol and diabetes blood tests, a cervical smear and breast check. Family Planning Clinics have women doctors who are knowledgeable and helpful, plus they are open to everyone.
Don’t start smoking, and reduce or stop if you do.
Eat and drink wisely – much better than your boyfriend. Vitamins B and C are easily lost with coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, sugar and alcohol. Keep these things to treat time on the weekend, and use herbal and fruit teas during the week.
Boost your immune system with plenty of fruits and vegetables; your B vitamin levels with plenty of wholegrain breads and cereals, and your calcium levels with yoghurt and cottage cheese.
Get a daily exercise habit going – it will not only help to keep your weight stable, but also keep your heart healthy.
Take a multivitamin and mineral to boost your nutrient levels – a one a day Healtheries Women’s Multi tablet will supply a good level of all the nutrients required when on the pill.
If your mood or energy levels are down, take Healtheries B Complex Supreme for a stimulating pickup. Nerves frazzled? Then try Healtheries Chelated Magnesium to help balance and calm.
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Easy to take, great for contraception, regular pain free periods, and clear skin, the oral contraceptive is certainly a wonderful medicine. 
Most side effects of the Pill are bothersome, but not serious. They include breast tenderness, headaches, nausea, and depression. 
In some cases, taking the Pill can raise your risk for heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as blood clots in the legs, lungs, heart, or brain. For those who smoke and eat foods high in saturated fats there is a much greater risk.
Because your liver has to break down the extra hormones from the pill, it's time to give it a break from all the usual detoxing work it does for you. You’ll feel less sluggish and your digestive system will be more regular if you treat your liver right.
As your body adjusts to hormonal changes created by The Pill, tiredness and weight gain may occur.