I am honored to have been invited to contribute a chapter titled, The Functional Nutrition Approach to Treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome for the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Nutrition Guide to Optimal Health: Using Principles of Functional Medicine & Nutritional Genomics. Find out how you can access this information-packed book for FREE!
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.
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:
While berberine may be new to the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) community, nothing is new about the numerous benefits of this potent supplement. Used for thousands of years in China as a treatment for diabetes and infertility, berberine is an herb that is showing great promise for treating -and preventing- many of the difficult and frustrating symptoms and complications associated with PCOS. Here are 10 of the many benefits of berberine for women with PCOS.
We have been recommending inositol to women with PCOS for years at the PCOS Nutrition Center. And for good reason: A combination of myo and d-chiro inositol (Ovasitol) have been shown to reduce insulin resistance and gestational diabetes, and inositol helps to improve fertility by improving egg quality and ovulation. A new study now suggests that inositol can help those suffering from type 2 diabetes achieve glycemic control and could even be a replacement for metformin.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from my private PCOS Nutrition Coaching patients is that they crave sweets and other high carb foods all the time. Can you relate? As a woman with PCOS, this is something I used to experience too. Growing up, I always wanted sweets. I would eat them in the morning after I woke up and even after having a satisfying meal. I couldn’t resist passing up a bakery. For all I knew, the cravings I had were normal. It wasn’t until I was in college that I noticed most other women didn’t have these cravings. Soon after college, I was diagnosed with PCOS and it all made sense. Now, I’m happy to say I don’t have those cravings like I used to have. Here’s what’s helped me and my private patients get rid of PCOS food cravings for good.
