I had two girlfriends over on Tuesday for dinner and one of them has this issue, which made me think of writing this blog. This one is for Andy!
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is on the rise in women around the world. Originally called Stein-Leventhal syndrome, physicians first described the collective symptoms that characterize the syndrome in 1935. Since then, PCOS has become very prevalent, with about 5 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age displaying one or more symptoms of PCOS.
PCOS is a syndrome. Syndromes are characterized by a collection of clinically recognized symptoms, signs, and phenomena that occur in groups.
Women with PCOS may experience just a few or many of the multiple symptoms associated with the syndrome, including:
The current thinking about PCOS is that it is very likely a genetic disorder, because it often runs in families. One of the classic markers of PCOS is hormonal imbalance. While women produce a small amount of male hormones (androgens) such as testosterone, in women with PCOS these levels are often significantly elevated. In fact, the high levels of androgens can account for many of the symptoms associated with PCOS.
Another link that researchers are considering is the one between insulin production and PCOS. In women with PCOS, the levels of insulin in their bodies tend to be higher than normal. This may be because their body does not control insulin well, and an excess of circulating insulin may increase the levels of androgen in the body.
Hormones serve as chemical messengers in your body. They are an important part of many of your bodily functions including mood, development, reproduction, fat storage, and metabolism. Tiny changes in the amounts of hormones you have can result in huge changes throughout your body. While some fluctuations are natural and normal throughout your monthly cycle, your hormone levels remain fairly consistent in their cyclic nature. When your hormones become unbalanced, however, and remain that way, you may begin to notice many unpleasant symptoms and side effects.
PCOS is a good example of the changes that can occur in the body when your hormones become imbalanced.
If youâve been diagnosed with PCOS or have many of the symptoms of the syndrome, what you eat can play a huge role in its management. You have power to help your own condition! Many foods, particularly chemicals, disrupt or unbalance hormones. For example, many dairy and meat products contain hormones used in the process of meat and dairy farming. Likewise, pesticides and fertilizers may contain chemicals that can further damage the delicate balance of your bodyâs hormonal system.
Therefore, itâs important you eat a very clean diet if you have PCOS or its symptoms. Here are some suggestions.
Currently, there is no known cure for PCOS. Instead, doctors treat the symptoms, typically using medication or surgical intervention. While some medical interventions may be necessary in severe cases, I strongly recommend pursuing a dietary approach first. The Beauty Detox System is a gluten-free, chemical free diet that promotes cleansing, minimizes toxic building, and seeks to balance hormones safely and naturally with the foods you eat.
Think of how to get energy from within: we heal ourselves through mind, body, and soul. The food that we eat may be the first gateway to finding a cure â inspiring new research and unlocking the mystery of our impurities.
