Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? Are thinking you may be having PCOS Symptoms? I’m here to tell you there is no need to worry. PCOS is totally treatable and you can live a normal life. So let’s discuss what PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is.
PCOS is a condition that affects a woman’s hormonal levels. When a woman has PCOS they produce higher than normal male hormones. The imbalance of hormones causes irregular periods and makes it more difficult for women to get pregnant. Symptoms of PCOS include facial and body hair growth as well as baldness, long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease. Diabetes medication as well as birth control pills can help with the hormone imbalance.

If you would like to learn more about PCOS please keep scrolling.

So what exactly is PCOS?

PCOS is a condition with hormones that affect women during their childbearing years. Between 20-27% percent of women in this age group have PCOS. Many women have PCOS symptoms without even knowing it. When a woman has PCOS their ovaries get affected as well as their reproductive organs that produce progesterone and estrogen – the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. A small amount of male hormones called androgens is produced.

Every month ovaries release eggs to be fertilized by a man’s sperm. This is called ovulation. When a woman has PCOS their cycle is irregular and needs to be tracked very carefully.

What Exactly Causes PCOS?

Medical professionals really do not know the exact cause of PCOS.

PCOS Symptoms

PCOS symptoms vary from person to person. Some common symptoms are:

• Missed or irregular periods
• Cysts on Ovaries
• Oily Skin or Acne
• Weight Gain
• Infertility

Now you’re probably wondering what can you do to treat this? Don’t you worry! You can!

A few months ago I was going for my well woman’s exam and let my doctor know about the abnormal cramps I was having, after a few minutes of waiting my doctor called me in her office. Right there and then, I found out I was diagnosed with PCOS. But how? I eat clean, take care of my body, exercise, and sleep well. How can something like this happen to me? It took me a second to really grasp the fact that I had it. BUT I got over it. I knew I was able to still get pregnant, my doctor and family comforted me, and I am here to comfort you.

So what now? I researched and researched and read about what I can do. If you have been reading my blogs YOU DEFINITELY KNOW that I am all about the natural route. Below are some topics I would like to cover in order to help reverse your PCOS.

Diet – PCOS and Weight Loss

Getting your diet in order is one of the key components to deal with your PCOS and weight loss. Some have had PCOS weight gain and some have different PCOS symptoms.

I knew a change had to happen, I WAS stuck in my routine like always. SO I decided to take a very holistic approach, adding meditation, little to no caffeine, adaptogen herbs, and much more! Change is always a little scary or sometimes very scary. We have to learn to adapt and change when necessary.

Whole Foods

Whole foods or “One ingredient foods” as I like to call them. One ingredient foods/whole foods are free from hormones (if you get the hormone-free ones of course), artificial sugars, and preservatives. When you are trying to change the body try and get food at its most natural state. Some examples are eggs, fruit(my favorite are blueberries), vegetables(try and stick to leafy green ones) whole grains(like oatmeal), and possibly legumes.

Use Carbs and Fats as Needed

Focus on protein as protein is the building block of what makes you, well you. Protein is good for your bones, increases muscle mass, helps generate healthy skin and nails. Immune system cells and antibodies rely on protein. We need our immune system strong when trying to care for our PCOS. You can use carbs or fat for your energy sources, but honestly having a good mix of both is probably the most beneficial for your health. I recommend having at least one serving of carbs a day before bed to release serotonin and help you sleep better. Focus on getting some protein in each meal even if it is a small amount,

Reduce Inflammation

Try and reach for anti-inflammatory foods. A few of my favorite anti-inflammatory foods are fatty fish like salmon, olive oil, nuts like walnuts and almonds, and berries. These foods can help ease your symptoms. Focus on getting key nutrients in and see how your body reacts to these foods. Low levels of magnesium and iron are a common factor in those who have PCOS so be sure to get those key nutrients in. Some foods that have iron and magnesium are.

Magnesium:
Dark Chocolate
Avocado
Nuts

Iron:
Spinach
Liver
Pumpkin Seeds

Start to incorporate some of these foods into your diet and I am SURE you will see some improvement.

Listen to your body

Your body knows you better than you know you. Start to tailor your workouts towards how your body feels not how you feel. If you need to do less, then do less, If you feel like you can do more then do more. Forcing your body to do things under stress is not a way for your body to progress it will start to regress. It’s like taking 2 steps forward and 2 steps back.

Rest

REST is crucial, REST is important. REST is your best friend. Take it from me when I say you NEED a rest day. I will give you an example. I started to jump rope consistently for 6-7 days, after a while I was barely progressing. SO the winter storm hit and I was forced to cut my training down. After a week of not jumping and better weather, I finally got to jump rope! and let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised. I was faster, smoother, and was able to jump higher. I was probably the most recovered I had been in months. SO remember as much as you feel like you do not need rest. YOU PROBABLY DO!

Ditch the Caffeine

Caffeine does a lot of stress to the body and that is not what we want, it has been shown to affect estrogen levels and hormone behavior. Try an alternative like herbal tea. Yogi tea is my favorite, in particular, their Kava and Honey Lavender.

Use Supplements

I started using adaptogens to deal with stress. When you have PCOS the last thing you need is more stress in your life. Remember to always contact your physician before starting anything new. I do not want to get too in-depth about adaptogens but I will just say this, they are great, amazing and I think anyone can benefit from them! Below are some of my favorite adaptogens.

About this item

• PLANT BASED SUPPLEMENT: A vegan adrenal support supplement designed for individuals who would like to maintain their overall emotional well-being and healthy stress levels.
• DAILY STRESS SUPPORT: Combines Ashwagandha root extract with other physically and emotionally supporting adaptogen herbs to nourish the adrenals to support healthy response to stress.
• INCREASED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND ENERGY: A balancing adaptogenic plant-based formula with Holy Basil to support your emotional wellbeing and Rhodiola to support optimal energy and balance your circadian rhythm.
• MADE AT THE GAIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARM: We are committed to using only non-GMO ingredients. Our products are purity tested and do not contain gluten, soy, dairy, meat, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, yeast or eggs.
• 30 DAY SUPPLY: Includes 1 (120 Count) Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Daily Support Vegan Liquid Phyto-Caps. We suggest taking 2 capsules twice daily after meals and using alongside Adrenal Health Nightly Restore for optimal results.

About this item

• The package dimension of the product is 2.1″L x 2.1″W x 3.6″H
• Number of items: 1
• Package Weight: 0.045 kilograms
• Directions: Take 1 capsule per day with water or juice on an empty stomach or as directed by your qualified healthcare professional.
• During the summer months products may arrive warm but Amazon stores and ships products in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, when provided.

About this item

• MULTIPLE HEALTH BENEFITS: A natural mood enhancer, this herbal adaptogen supports a healthy response to daily stress and works to strengthen the immune system, boost energy and combat mental fatigue
• TRUSTED FOR CENTURIES: Ashwagandha root is a potent herb and longtime staple of traditional Ayurvedic medicine that is packed with bioactive compounds shown to support mental and physical vitality
• CLEAN INGREDIENTS: Our easy to swallow gel caps contain 450mg of ashwagandha (withania somnifera) root dried powder and are minimally processed, non GMO and free of preservatives, dairy, soy and nuts
• SAFE MANUFACTURING: Swanson is committed to providing you with high quality products you can trust; as such, we have voluntary certification by NSF for Good Manufacturing Practices
• DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS: Adults, take 2 pills twice per day with water; please consult your physician before using if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition

Aside from what is listed above here are a few other things I did to help with my PCOS:

1. I tried not to let little things bother me. I had to break the habit of being myself. In order to change well, you have to change your mind. You have to be able to look past your feelings AND that is when the magic happens. Here is an amazing book I LOVE by Dr. Joe Dispenza called Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself. Read it, you will love it!
2. I started to do yoga more often, yoga relaxes you, makes you stronger, and decreases stress levels.
3. Practicing gratitude – Every day I would start to note the things I was grateful for. I would note every time I said thank you. It showed me how much I had instead of much I lacked.
4. I started to meditate 3 times a day for 5 minutes each time. I would picture how I wanted my life to be and truly be embodied in the meditation.
5. I practiced being mindful. I would set a timer at 2 pm EVERY SINGLE DAY and appreciate how I felt, the things around me, the sound, and just sat there in the moment.
6. Last but surely not least, I practiced breathing. I would listen to my breaths and acknowledge my breathing. I would be thankful for the process my body does without me even telling it what to do.

In Conclusion

PCOS is totally and 100% treatable. With the right diet, mindset, support, and exercise plan. I am confident you will be on your way to heal your PCOS symptoms!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me here anytime! I look forward to chatting.