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What is PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? It is a hormonal disorder, which currently affects about 1 in 10 women, making it one of the most common hormonal disorders. As a hormone expert who has PCOS and is treating it naturally, I get really excited to share what I’ve learned here on the Clean blog.
A cleanse such as the 21-Day Clean Program can be extremely helpful for balancing hormones. We do recommend first checking with your doctor first to get to the bottom of any hormonal imbalances. It’s always an option to adhere to a Clean diet for daily meals, shakes, and snacks to help relieve symptoms.
Getting a diagnosis
Diagnosing PCOS can be difficult, as you don’t actually have to have cysts on your ovaries to have the condition. I only had one very small cyst on my ovary at the time of diagnosis, and haven’t had any since. This is partly why it took over a year for my doctor to confirm the diagnosis, even though I suspected it from the start.
To be confirmed PCOS, you must have two of the following three features:
Chronic Anovulation (lack of ovulation + irregular periods)
Clinical (acne, excessive hair growth, hair loss, oily skin and hair) or biochemical signs of excess androgens (elevated blood levels of androgen hormones like testosterone and DHEA and the pituitary hormone LH)
-Cystic acne, mostly in the chin, jawline and upper lip areas
-Excess hair growth on the body (like chin, neck, upper lip and chest)
Conventional treatment
While I didn’t go the conventional route, there are two typical options allopathic doctors may suggest if you’ve discovered PCOS:
Hormonal Birth Control: Whether the pill, IUD or other form, this medication of course is there to balance hormones. Of course, the merits and downfalls to taking hormonal birth control is a conversation for another day, know that there are other options.
Metformin: This is a prescription medication usually used for diabetics. As insulin resistance is a big part of PCOS, it is often prescribed to help with insulin sensitivity. Many women take this drug and experience some moderate weight loss, although side effects like GI complaints are extremely common.
Natural healing
I went from an acne-covered, overweight, thin-haired woman who only had a period every 3-4 months to someone who has reversed these issues in the majority through natural methods only. Because of this, I’m a HUGE advocate of natural healing! There are many options out there, including some that have been well researched. Here’s a short explanation of how to live a natural PCOS-balancing lifestyle.
Diet
The focus of any healthy PCOS diet should be one that promotes insulin sensitivity and blood sugar health, as well as one that reduces toxins like hormone-mucking endocrine disruptors.
Activity with PCOS can be tricky. On the one hand, super intense or long Activity could exacerbate symptoms at they stress out our adrenals and cause more cortisol to be produced. More cortisol generally means imbalanced sex hormones, as they share precursors which get re-routed to cortisol upon stress. Secondly, not enough movement can reduce insulin sensitivity, potentially exacerbating symptoms in that mechanism.
Here’s some suggestions:
Yoga: Yoga has been shown to reduce cortisol – the stress hormone with potential negative effects in PCOS. Chronically elevated cortisol levels both prevent sex hormones from being produced correctly and elevate blood sugar, again coming back to that insulin resistance. I personally do yoga almost every single day – even if for only 10-15 minutes.
There are so many potential supplements, and for that reason I’m going to just list the main few that have either been studied or I’ve seen have great impact clinically.
Inositol: for insulin sensitivity, reducing hyper-androgen symptoms and promoting ovulation
Spearmint tea: potential anti-androgen herb
Vitex: potential medicinal herb for regulating cycles and reducing PMS symptoms
NAC: aka N-acetyl cysteine, helps to restore insulin sensitivity
All the organic food, Activity and supplements in the world won’t do any good if you aren’t kind to yourself. Schedule in time to focus on YOU, by using various stress reducing activities. When I stopped focusing on treating my PCOS, and starting treating my stress, I saw the most results with my hormones, including finally getting my cycles to normalize.
If you want a 3-day reset following clean diet guidelines, check out these recipes in a 3-day meal plan to help reset your gut and enhance your detox processes.
The Bright Lentil Beet Salad You'll Make On Repeat
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A Matcha Smoothie With Superfood Greens For Real Energy
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Traditional gingerbread gets a makeover with this healthy recipe. Gluten free, vegan, and full of warming spices, this gingerbread makes the perfect, cleanse-approved holiday treat.
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A Simple Carrot Turmeric Cauliflower Soup With Immunity-Boosting Ingredients
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Stay warm and cozy this winter with a simple immunity-boosting turmeric carrot cauliflower soup. This anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting soup is a perfect addition to your help Inter soup repertoire. It is also naturally dairy and gluten-free, making this a perfect addition to the eater's menu.
Celebrate the Season With This Festive Fall Harvest Salad
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This hearty salad delivers all the fall flavors you crave while nourishing you inside out. Enjoy an abundance of seasonal favorites like butternut squash, apple, kale, and pumpkin seeds, drizzled with a creamy turmeric tahini dressing.