Zinc isn’t typically on the radar for most women with PCOS but it should be! Studies are showing that women with PCOS have low levels of zinc. The good news is that having adequate levels of zinc can improve many of the frustrating symptoms women with PCOS experience every day like acne, hair loss, and excessive hair growth. Here’s what women with PCOS should know.
Women with PCOS are 19 times more likely to have a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is also a cofactor involved in hundreds of important reactions such as regulating glucose and insulin levels. In fact, having low levels of magnesium increases your risk for having type 2 diabetes. Many factors can cause low magnesium levels. Deficiency can cause problems such as migraines, anxiety, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. Here’s what women with PCOS should know about the health benefits of magnesium.
For some women, having PCOS can feel like living with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) on a daily basis. But for the women with PCOS who have periods, PMS can make you feel even worse, having a significant impact on quality of life. Nutrient levels in the body fluctuate during a woman’s menstrual cycle. Many important nutrients such as the ones listed, are found to dip during the week or so leading up to a woman’s period and may contribute to worsening PMS symptoms. Here are some natural treatments that have been shown in clinical trials to improve symptoms associated with PMS:
Food sensitivities are much more common than food allergies or intolerances yet many people don’t know they have one. Women with PCOS tend to have more inflammation than those without the condition. A regular intake of a food they are reactive to can be the cause of a constant immune reaction causing low grade inflammation in their body and worsening PCOS symptoms. This inflammation can begin affecting organ systems very distant from the gut, like the brain, joints, thyroid tissue and so on. Guest blogger and dietitian Caitlin Johnson shows us what women with PCOS should know about food sensitivities.
Can the food you eat affect your PCOS? You bet! The gut microbiome in women with PCOS have been found to be different than those without the syndrome. Making changes to improve your microbiome can improve your PCOS and how you feel both physically and emotionally. The good news: changes made to your diet can improve the functioning of your gut in as little as 24 hours. Here are 5 easy ways to do it.
Hispanic women tend to have higher rates of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome, but that doesn’t mean they have to abandon their favorite cultural foods. To me as a Registered Dietitian, the most important thing is preserve the Hispanic culture, to educate our people to have realistic food expectations and most of all, be healthier. And in doing so, we can help reduce our BMI, control blood sugars and manage PCOS or metabolic syndrome. Here’s how.
