Make An Apointment
Dr. Chelsea Gronick, Naturopathic Doctor in Kelowna, BC

4 Steps To Getting Control Over Your PCOS Symptoms

PCOS is a common endocrine disorder that affects women primarily in their 20’s through 40’s. Symptoms can vary from woman to woman, and you may or may not have enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts (which is typically diagnosed via ultrasound).

The symptoms you might have can vary, but common ones we see in our office include:

The common conventional fix for these symptoms is commonly birth control and metformin, which unfortunately don’t do anything to address the cause of all of this.

The good news is, we can fix all of this naturally without resorting to birth control pills. We do this by first understanding what the cause is and then by recognizing how nutrient deficiencies and diet play a role. So what’s the cause of these symptoms? Insulin Resistance! Many of the common symptoms of PCOS are caused by insulin resistance and defects in insulin secretion.

So, what causes insulin resistance then?

In addition to insulin resistance, the other contributing causes to PCOS include inflammation and genetics.

Inflammation and Fat

You might think that the fat on your hips, belly, and butt does nothing more than make your jeans feel too tight. Interestingly, we now know that fat is a metabolically active tissue that makes hormones and other molecules that cause inflammation. Your body is able to handle a certain amount of fat without causing all kinds of damage. But once your fat tipping point is reached, your fat cells ramp up activation of inflammatory molecules that then causes insulin resistance which can lead to PCOS.

Genetics

Certain people have the unfortunate genetics that just don’t handle carbs that well. It’s a sad reality, but true. If your one of those people (or you would like to know if you are, we have a genetic test for that), you’ll likely do well on a lower carb paleo diet.

High Estrogen and PCOS Symptoms

Many PCOS women have high estrogen levels in addition to high androgen levels, which leads to the symptoms of estrogen dominance. So where does the estrogen come from? Estrogens go up when the androgens, like testosterone, get converted into estrogens in the fat cells via an aromatase enzyme. This is why overweight women with PCOS also have estrogen dominance and androgen dominance simultaneously.

 Lab Tests for PCOS

How Can You Reverse PCOS Symptoms?

A comprehensive treatment for PCOS involves addressing several key areas including:

  1. Nutrition
  2. Exercise
  3. Nutritional Supplements
  4. Prescription medications (if the above are not enough, or if fertility remains an issue)

Nutrition for PCOS Symptoms

There are some simple steps you can take to manage your PCOS with nutrition.

  1. Get your blood sugar stable by following a lower-carb paleo diet.
  2. Avoid sugars, refined carbs, soda, and fruit juices.
  3. Minimize your intake of fast food and restaurant food. Studies show that we eat 500+ MORE calories when we eat out!!
  4. Get protein at every meal
  5. Try intermittent fasting. This means you stop eating around 7 or 8 pm and you don’t eat until the next day around 8 am.

Exercise for PCOS

The best form of exercise for women with PCOS is high intensity interval training and resistance or weight training, 4 – 5 days per week. You’ll also want to get in at least 1 hour per day of low intensity activity, such as leisure walking or biking.

Nutritional Supplements for PCOS Symptoms

Several nutritional supplements that I find work well for my PCOS patients include:

Prescription Medications for PCOS Symptoms

I usually save prescription medications as a last resort for women who need extra help. Some of the common medications used in women who have PCOS include:

 

If you’re a woman with PCOS, we can help. We offer a complimentary consultation so you can find out how we can help you get control over your PCOS.