Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder. It is generally underdiagnosed and might affect as many as 15% of females during their reproductive years. The good news is that lifestyle changes and targeted dietary supplements can significantly help women affected by this debilitating disorder. However, every case is unique, and it requires an individualized and multi-faceted approach.
🔰What is PCOS?
PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) is a common health condition encountered by 1 out of 10 women. This disorder is likely to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and affects more than 20% of women.
PCOS makes the male hormone androgen production in massive amounts leading to inflammation, obesity, acne, unwanted hair growth, and irregular menstrual cycle.
Furthermore, there is an imbalance in hormones such as progesterone and estrogen, resulting in heavy bleeding, mood swings, acne, and breast tenderness, to name a few.
And if it is diagnosed at an early stage, then long-term conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
🍜How Does Diet Affect PCOS?
Following a diet that satisfies a person’s nutritional needs helps maintain a healthy weight, promoting good insulin levels, which allows people with PCOS to feel better.
Eating the right foods and dodging certain ingredients may help you manage your symptoms of PCOS.
A nutritious diet can help regulate your hormones and your menstrual cycle. While eating processed, heavily preserved foods can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance.
✔ Two of the principal ways that diet affects PCOS are weight management and insulin production, and resistance. Though insulin plays a significant role in PCOS, managing insulin levels with a PCOS diet is one of the best things women can do to manage the condition.
Insulin is a hormone produced in your pancreas that helps the cells in your body turn sugar (glucose) into energy. If you don’t produce sufficient insulin, your blood sugar levels can rise. This can also arise if you’re insulin resistant, which means you cannot use the insulin you do produce efficiently.
A diet rich in refined carbohydrates, such as sugary and starchy foods, can make insulin resistance, hence weight loss, more difficult to control.
Foods to add
✔ Lean protein, such as fish.
✔ High-fiber vegetables, such as broccoli.
✔ Anti-inflammatory spices and foods, such as tomatoes and turmeric.
Foods to avoid
✔ Foods high in refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and muffins.
✔ Inflammatory foods, such as red and processed meats.
✔ Sugary snacks and drinks.
✅Can I Get Rid of PCOS?
Unfortunately, there is no apt cure for PCOS, but the treatments are for factors that reflect Polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms. However, overweight and obesity can be balanced by losing weight.
PCOS can be managed and treated with the help of a few lifestyle changes. You need to follow a healthy and balanced diet.
✔ Lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and regular exercise, can improve the way your body uses insulin and, consequently, improves your hormone levels.
✔ Birth control pills can also be a helpful treatment option if you aren't interested in getting pregnant because they can regulate your menstrual cycle and reduce androgen levels.
✔ Quitting alcohol & smoking and Regular exercise are other lifestyle measures that can help in managing PCOS efficiently.
📑Can a Healthy Woman (having PCOS) Take PCOS Powder?
Yes, a Healthy Woman can take PCOS Powder. It contains ingredients that bolster the health of the female reproductive system. It can also help during menstruation, bloating, and weight loss.
💊Supplement’s Role in Regulating PCOS
Supplements can play an important role. Traditional allopathic methods, such as the oral contraceptive pill, might not treat the root cause of PCOS. With the right mix of ingredients in your supplement, your ovaries can actually achieve a more balanced production of hormones and, consequently, lessen some of the PCOS symptoms that can affect your day to day life.
While heedful eating practices and leading a disciplined lifestyle are two mantras to efficiently manage polycystic ovarian syndrome, studies have also recently revealed that taking the right kind of dietary supplements can exceptionally help women with PCOS to improve their condition.
If you have PCOS, you must have supplements such as omega-3, Inositol, and chromium.
✔ There are pieces of evidence that omega-3 intake can reduce androgen levels in women with PCOS, “but it’s also helpful in reducing inflammation and decreasing insulin resistance.
✔ Inositols can help with excess hair growth, acne, and PMS symptoms that come with PCOS.” So basically, you should include supplements that contain ingredients like Omega-3 and Inositols.
✔ From improper weight gain and cardiovascular disease risks to infertility, and acne, inflammation plays a fundamental role throughout. Curcumin supplements can fight this inflammation is the exact reason why a PCOS friendly dietary supplement works so well.
✔ Even Fish Oil is really advantageous for PCOS. One of the reasons fish oil supplements are well worth considering is because they help you balance your essential fatty acids.
✔ For many people reading this, though, I doubt that a good night’s sleep seems more like a pipe dream than the one you’ll actually have since insomnia is such a common PCOS linked problem. If this seems like you, then melatonin supplements may be one of your best options.
✔ Women with Polycystic ovary syndrome have lower zinc levels. Zinc deficiency may be partially to blame for the insulin resistance and abnormal cholesterol levels often seen in PCOS.
Luckily, taking a zinc supplement can help to treat these underlying conditions.
If you’re dealing with PCOS or any of its symptoms, you might feel frustrated at times. Taking proactive steps concerning your health can improve your mood as well as reduce your symptoms.
One of the best ways to do this is to create a good food list and stick to it.
Obviously, some supplements work, but using an individual nutrient as an “easy-fix” is always going to under-deliver. However, having evidence based supplements that can help treat PCOS is awesome; you can try supplements available in the market, such as PCOS Powder.
Pregnant, lactating, and elderly people with pre medical conditions should consult their physician before taking any supplement for PCOS.
1. Sirmans SM, Pate KA. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clin Epidemiol. 2013;6:1–13. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
2. Carmina E. Genetic and environmental aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003;26:1151–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
3. Doi SA. Neuroendocrine dysfunction in PCOS: a critique of recent reviews. Clin Med Res. 2008;6:47–53. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
4. Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group. Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Hum Reprod. 2004;19:41–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
5. Azziz R, Carmina E, Dewailly D, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Escobar-Morreale HF, Futterweit W, et al. The Androgen Excess and PCOS Society criteria for the polycystic ovary syndrome: the complete task force report. Fertil Steril. 2009;91:456–88. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
6. Sheehan MT. Polycystic ovarian syndrome: diagnosis and management. Clin Med Res. 2004;2:13–27. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
7. Stein JD, Andrews C, Musch DC, Green C, Lee PP. Sight-Threatening Ocular Diseases Remain Underdiagnosed Among Children Of Less Affluent Families. Health Aff (Millwood) 2016;35:1359–66. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
8. Norman RJ, Dewailly D et al. Polycystic ovary syndrome. The Lancet, Volume 370, Issue 9588, Pages 685-697, 25 August 2007 doi. 10. 1016/S0140-6736(07) 61345-2
9. Hirschberg AL. Polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity and reproductive implications. Women's Health (Lond Engl). 2009 Sep; 5(5):529-40
10. Rocha AL, Oliviera FR et al. Recent advances in the understanding and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. F1000 Research. 2019 Apr 26; 8: F1000 Faculty-Rev-565
11. Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, et al. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2018;33(9):1602–18
13. Lovieno, N, Dalton, ED et al. Second-tier natural antidepressants: Review and critique. Journal of Affective Disorders. 130 (2011): 343-357.