As a holistic nutritionist and PCOS educator, I interact daily with women diagnosed with PCOS.
PCOS — Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome — is a group of symptoms caused by hormonal imbalances.
It is believed that one in 10 women have PCOS, and symptoms can range from weight gain, sleep disturbance, irregular menses, anxiety, depression, and subfertility.
The symptoms
Most women who see me for PCOS concerns share a very common experience - feeling they don't recognize themselves anymore.
They complain of thinning hair, skin covered in pimples, gaining a tummy and thicker chin hairs.
PCOS is a complex hormonal condition; however natural treatments and lifestyle interventions can drastically improve symptoms.
Natural strategies
I concentrate on the following areas with my clients.
- Heal the gut: Many women with PCOS will suffer from poor gut health. It is a primary culprit behind bloating, acne, brain fog, and even missing cycles; whether it's leaky gut, yeast or bacterial overgrowth, or low stomach acid. I will show you what to eat for a healthy gut balance.
- Detoxify the liver: Your liver is a very busy organ. The liver must filter anything you put in or on your body. These days that's a lot, especially if you are taking medications. And it gets a little overworked and can't do its job well. It starts storing these toxins in fat cells when that happens, causing your waistline to widen.
- Identify the trigger and balance the hormones: Let me tell you your imbalance isn't just excess testosterone. It is with Estrogen, Lh FSH, Cortisol, Progesterone, Prolactin, DHEAS Insulin, SHBG, T4, and TSH (just to name a few). I look at what hormones are causing the issue and help you create a lifestyle to get them back in sync and KEEP them in sync.
- Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress: Your body as a woman with PCOS wasn't made for stress; you react to it more strongly and stay in the "stressed out mode" for a more extended period. This may be at the core of your hair loss, craving, joint pains and aggressive mood swings.
- Address sleep and anxiety triggers: The health of your mind and resolving stored emotional trauma is JUST as important as what you eat. It impacts all the body systems.
If you feel like you've been dealing with unbearable PCOS symptoms, know that you are not alone, and this does not have to be your reality.
Monique Allen, BSC, is a certified holistic nutritionist and PCOS educator. She runs a web-based practice through which she helps women with PCOS regain their bodies without dieting, attending the gym or taking pills.
If you need additional resources or personal support, follow her on social media @themoniqueallen or e-mail [email protected].
