PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Common symptoms are irregular periods, acne, and weight gain. In some cases, PCOS can also cause irregular hair growth and ovarian cysts because of elevated androgen levels. Despite being the most common endocrine problem among women of reproductive age, medical understanding of PCOS is limited. The good news is lifestyle changes and supplements can make managing PCOS much more doable, so let’s look at a few ways you can reduce symptoms and keep your body in sync naturally.
Diet
Dietary changes are one of the most direct ways to combat the hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance often associated with PCOS. Processed foods, artificial flavors/colors, and refined sugars all work against your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and prevent inflammation, so a diet that focuses on whole foods with lots of leafy green vegetables, fruits, and nuts is key. Caffeine also complicates hormone regulation, so consider replacing coffee drinks with your favorite flavor of herbal tea or give turmeric lattes a try.
Skincare
PCOS changes how much oil your skin produces, often causing acne or excessively dry skin. Skin care affects much more than surface level beauty, and can have a surprising impact on how you feel throughout the day. When creating a PCOS targeted skincare routine, focus on choosing anti-oxidant and superfood-rich products that focus on exfoliation and acne clearing. This will help keep your skin refreshed and glowing, and may be just the boost you need to take on your everyday challenges.
Massage & Acupuncture
The role stress plays in hormonal imbalance is often overlooked, and people with PCOS may especially benefit from reducing daily life stresses in whatever way possible. Other powerful tactics for managing stress and imbalance are adding regular massage or acupuncture to your routine. If you haven’t experienced the benefits one or both of these treatments provide, they may be a game changer for your symptom management and overall well being!
Supplements
It’s amazing what testing and personalized combinations of supplements can do for managing PCOS symptoms, which is why it’s such an important part of what we do. We use a simple saliva test to check hormone function, and the results help us determine a specific treatment plan to achieve hormonal balance. For PCOS support, we generally recommend a combination of primrose oil, zinc, omega oils, and calcium, all of which can be found at https://www.eohinfo.com/store. Individualization is important when putting together a treatment plan, so we always recommend contacting us to schedule a consultation. If you’re struggling with managing your PCOS, or you have concerns about possible hormone imbalances you’re experiencing, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Sources
Dweck, Caroline. 2021. 12 PCOS Beauty Treatments. Who What Wear. https://www.whowhatwear.com/pcos-beauty-treatments
Watson, Kathryn. 2019. 30 Natural Ways to Treat Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/natural-treatment-pcos#diet -changes
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