Daily Fat Metabolism
PCOS - How to Treat It
Women's health matters. And it is very important to understand and cater to all the daily needs and requirements of the female body. For a well-balanced body, it is necessary to follow a holistic approach that not only revolves around physical health but nurtures mental well-being as well.With the growing concerns relating to stress, pollution, work-life balance, improper nourishment and so much more, it becomes extremely crucial to nourish your body and mind. You are investing in your future by taking a little extra care and value for your health and making positive changes that can last a lifetime. So don’t delay. It's time to put yourself first and seriously consider prioritising your health.Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS is a hormonal condition that women can develop during their reproductive years (between 13-40). The main problem of PCOS is that it can affect your fertility or ability to bear children naturally. Other symptoms of PCOS include:
- Irregular periods - PCOS may stop your periods altogether, delay your period patterns, or make them harder to time correctly.
- Acne or unwanted facial hair - PCOS can result in facial hair growth or severe inflammatory acne or scarring
- Hormonal imbalances - When you have PCOS, your reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone are out of balance. They will need to be balanced. This imbalance also affects other key hormones like androgens, insulin and progesterone. While androgens largely belong to male bodies, they are also present in women. Insulin is responsible for blood sugar levels.
- Ovarian cysts - If you have PCOS, you can experience enlarged ovaries due to inflammation, or you might notice cystic wounds on the ovaries.
- PCOS weight gain - People with PCOS are at risk of weight gain (around the abdomen) or even obesity.
- Pattern baldness - For women, PCOS can cause thinning of hair, hair fall, or even pattern baldness in bad cases
PCOS cannot be cured, but can be managed effectively. A PCOS treatment is within your reach if you speak to a good doctor, based on your goals. PCOS can affect your fertility, but many women have been able to conceive naturally. However, you might need to discuss a PCOS treatment with a doctor to improve fertility.
What are the PCOS causes?
PCOS causes have not been confirmed or narrowed down by the medical community. Several reasons are consistently discussed. One could be hereditary - women whose mothers or sisters have PCOS stand a chance of getting it too. PCOS can also be caused by an overproduction of insulin in the body, which can affect the ovaries or the body’s ability to ovulate. Doctors have not concluded on why some women get PCOS. One of the reasons could be hereditary.Other medical professionals have discussed PCOS as a result of lifestyle issues (such as consumption of processed or junk food, less exercise or absence of an activity, or not enough continuous or restful sleep). None of this has been conclusively studied or proven, and women who life healthy lifestyles can still get PCOS due to other reasons as well.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
Just like there is no single PCOS cause, there is no one single way to diagnose if a woman has PCOS. If you are witnessing visible PCOS symptoms and speak to a doctor, they will discuss your medical history and which symptoms you have seen. You might have to take a physical exam and further blood tests to measure hormonal levels, the right blood sugar levels and if you have any cholesterol. If you are checking for fertility, you will be given an ultrasound to examine your ovulation, check you for cysts and the thickness of your uterus lining.
How does your diet plan affect PCOS?
People with PCOS are often found to have higher than normal insulin levels . Insulin is produced in the pancreas and helps cells in the body turn sugar (glucose) into energy.If you don’t produce enough insulin, your blood sugar can rise. If you have insulin resistance, your body tries to pump out high levels of insulin in an effort to keep blood sugar levels normal. High levels of insulin can cause your ovaries to produce more androgens, like testosterone.Insulin resistance may also be caused by having a higher body mass index. Insulin resistance can make it harder to lose weight with your PCOS diet plan for weight loss or your diet chart for weight gain for females, which is why people with PCOS often experience this issue.A diet plan for weight loss high in refined carbohydrates, like starchy and sugary foods, can make insulin resistance, and therefore weight loss, more difficult to manage.
What to avoid in your PCOS diet plan to lose weight?
Avoid foods that are high in refined carbs like sugar, sugar syrups, white breads, ready to consume juices and beverages, bakery items, candies in your diet plan for weight loss/ In your diet plan, avoid processed meats, refined soy (You can eat soyabean just avoid the refined soy products) and processed cheese.In your diet plan, also avoid unhealthy fatty foods, unhealthy fats like dalda/ vanaspati ghee, and processed snacks.Some further lifestyle changes to follow along with a PCOS diet plan for weight loss:
Along with merely following a diet plan, you can make some lifestyle changes to better manage PCOS symptoms. These changes include consistent exercise and daily physical movement. Many experts have concluded that getting 150 minutes of exercise in a week is ideal.
Consistent daily activity, taking in low amounts of sugar, and a low-inflammation diet plan can contribute towards weight loss, along with a diet plan for weight loss. Weight loss may help improve ovulation as well, so the two are interconnected.
PCOS can cause a huge amount of stress, so following daily stress reduction techniques (like regular deep breathing, yoga, or meditation) can help you calm your mind and connect deeply with your body.
What is the right PCOS treatment for me?
Your PCOS treatment depends on many factors - your age, visible symptoms and goals (like if you would like to get pregnant naturally). Your doctor might start with giving you natural ways to manage PCOS. A weight loss might help your medications work better and reduce other symptoms. If your goal is just to manage PCOS without pregnancy, you might be given hormonal birth control. If you want to conceive naturally, a doctor might give you fertility medicine to release your eggs easily.You can also explore a clean, plant-based holistic PCOS treatment by choosing OZiva for PCOS. OZiva HerBalance for PCOS contains 21 plant-based wholefoods including Shatavari, Ashoka and Red Raspberry for better hormonal balance in a few months. It can help you get a regular period and may improve fertility, along with a balanced diet and a holistic lifestyle.