PCOS
What it is and how to reverse it ⏪
Around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) yet up to 70% remain undiagnosed. Given its prevalence and the fact that many women suffer from it unnecessarily, I thought it time to devote an edition of this newsletter to it! To be diagnosed with PCOS two of the following three must exist: irregular or absent periods, high androgen levels (a specific set of hormones), and an excess of follicles on the ovaries.
Symptoms
🩸Irregular or missed periods
😳 Excess hair on face, chest and abdomen
💇♀️Hair loss on head
😔Weight-loss resistance
🥵Acne
🥚Infertility
Although there is a genetic predisposition for PCOS it largely manifests due to environmental mismatch. Our bodies have not had a chance to catch up to the rapid growth and new lifestyle humans have adopted since the industrial revolution. We now live in a world with ultra-processed foods, chronic stress, environmental toxins, etc.
🍏 Foods used to mostly only be available in their whole form. High calorie, high sugar, seed oil-laden foods 🍭 were hard to come by because they were so labor, time and resource intensive to make.
🏃♀️ Our fight or flight response served us well for thousands of years when we had to physically fight or run for safety. Unfortunately, our nervous system doesn’t know the difference between a threatening animal and a toxic coworker 😡. Our bodies are also very confused as to why they’re receiving light stimuli after the sun has set!
☣️ We live in an environment saturated with toxic chemicals, added hormones, heavy metals, etc. and this wasn’t the case hundreds of years ago.
These are just a few examples of environmental mismatch. I could go on!
What you can do about it
Of course you can and should see your doctor if you think you might have PCOS. Unfortunately, they’ll likely tell you there is no cure and birth control will alleviate symptoms. THIS IS FALSE! Luckily, PCOS is highly responsive to dietary and lifestyle changes and there are plenty of women who have put their’s into remission by:
💆🏾♀️ Managing stress
🍵 Limiting caffeine and alcohol
💪🏽 Exercising regularly (particularly strength training and walking)
💊 Supplements
The majority of people with PCOS have blood sugar imbalance/insulin resistance/(pre)diabetes. As we’ve talked about, balancing your hormones is largely about balancing your blood sugar. I’ve also spoken before about how limiting toxin exposure, managing stress, reducing caffeine, and prioritizing sleep and exercise all factor into balanced hormones. I invite you to read these past posts and if you’re interested in 1:1 coaching to help you reverse your PCOS don’t hesitate to reach out!
Warm regards,
Donelle