Health Advice for Women

Getting married is a wonderful right of passage for a woman. Many of us wait to establish our careers, find the right person with the same life goals, and take immense joy in planning our “perfect” day.  And the best part is that we can finally stop hearing the dreaded question “So when are you getting married?”

Unfortunately, that question is immediately replaced with “So when are you going to have children?”

Time and time again I’ve heard brides recount the fact that they didn’t even get out of their wedding reception without someone, or multiple someone’s, asking them when they were going to start a family. And whether they wait to start trying or want to have children right away, getting pregnant is often not as simple as planning a wedding; there can be complications, set backs and an emotional toll that even the best planner is not prepared to deal with.

To most, pregnancy seems like the most natural process in the world. If you stop using birth control, you’ll get pregnant within three months right? Wrong. More and more, women are struggling to get pregnant. And the frustration builds when you are told by your OBGYN that you have to wait a year to formally be diagnosed with an infertility problem before receiving any kind of infertility counseling and/or treatment.

What women and some OBGYN’ s do not realize is that there are signs that show up way before a woman tries to become pregnant that could signal a problem with their reproductive systems. Some questions to ask yourself if you feel you might have a problem:

Do you suffer from missed periods?
Do you have excess fat around your middle?
Do you crave carbs?
Do you suffer from depression or have emotional ups and downs?
Do you suffer from adult acne or have thinning hair?

Some or all of these symptoms could mean that you have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common problem for women in childbearing years that can severely inhibit their chances of becoming pregnant.

PCOS is the cause of an alarming variety of conditions in women today, but its symptoms are among the most widely misdiagnosed. What’s worse is that women with PCOS often suffer through one ineffective and frustrating infertility treatment after another – and still not get to the root cause of your infertility or get pregnant.

The good news is that women with PCOS can improve their health and chances of becoming pregnant just by making a few changes to their daily lives. From adopting a low carb, healthy diet to exercising daily and taking vitamins, women can decrease the symptoms caused by PCOS and increase their chances of becoming pregnant naturally. And there are many support groups out there to help you. For example, many women use Insulite Labs’ 5 Element System (found at www.pcos.insulitelabs.com) to help them reverse PCOS. The Insulite Labs PCOS System helps you get the nutrients and supplements your body needs, helps you change your eating habits, and works with you on getting the exercise and emotional support to deal with PCOS.

For more information on PCOS, please visit:

Insulite Labs (http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/)
PCOSupport.org
Soulcysters.com

There is nothing more frustrating than losing control. At work, at home, with others, with ourselves, it hurts when we see all our well laid out plans get turned upside down by factors that we can’t do anything about.

For women with PCOS, that frustration is magnified by the fact that PCOS often controls multiple factors in our lives. From health issues to pregnancies and appearance to self esteem issues, PCOS is a beast that we feel we cannot tame.

Like in every good fairytale, we girls dream that our knight in shining armor will slay the beast and give us our life back. That, of course, will not happen – it’s why they call them fairytales. But there is someone who can help us get our PCOS symptoms under control and set us on the path to improved self esteem and, as a result, a bigger and better life: Insulite Labs

Insulite Labs 5 Element System incorporates nutrition, exercise, nutraceuticals, an awareness program for food addiction and cravings and support networks, all designed to deal with the symptoms that cause us so much angst. With Insulite Labs, we are no longer victims of pre-diabetes, weight gain, adult acne, hair loss and irregular periods. With Insulite Labs, women with PCOS have a fighting chance; they are the ones who have taken control and have killed the beast that has been weighing them down most of their lives.

Still feel like Rapunzel? Stuck in the PCOS tower for life? Take a few tips from some women who have used the Insulite Labs protocol to get their health back on track:

(With Insulite Labs) I have more energy, deeper sleep, menopause seems easier, I have already lost weight and some inches around my incredibly large midsection and my face looks younger and more refreshed. It is very easy to follow this health regimen which uses a systematic approach to reverse the PCOS instead of the classical approach with prescription pills which don’t even handle the PCOS and instead add side effects.
I’m eating and eliminating properly. As a chronic osteoarthritic, my improved diet and something in the supplements is helping my joint symptoms, and I am more energetic.

An old friend said “you’re starting to sound like your old self again, like you’re alive again. And, you look like you’re getting smaller.” Anyone with PCOS should not hesitate to give this program a try!”
– NR, New York

“I have been on the PCOS System for exactly two weeks today, and I have noticed some very welcome changes! I am getting a better quality sleep, I do not wake and toss and turn and have millions of disturbing dreams; I wake feeling more rested and rejuvenated. My acne has improved, my face is not inflamed any more, my complexion is more evenly toned and not as greasy. I have found my food cravings dropped dramatically! I find that I sometimes forget to eat because I no longer feel ravenously hungry all the time! My cravings for sweets has diminished, and if I do find myself hungry and in danger of eating the delicious looking Mr. Goodbar, I pop a breath mint in and the craving goes away!”

- B.G, Plymouth, MI

So go ahead Rapunzel… let down your golden hair. Climb down from the tower and battle PCOS head on. Contact Insulite Labs today!
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As a stay at home mother of two young, energetic boys I always thought that constantly being tired was just part of the job. By two o’clock each afternoon, all I wanted to do was get them to nap and lay down on the couch to regroup. Often, by the time I fell asleep, they were ready to get up so I was operating on automatic pilot, barely able to play with them outside, get their dinner on the table and do their baths before collapsing myself.

Then finally, after a conversation with my doctor, I realized that my constant and debilitating fatigue was not normal. Neither was my adult acne problem, hair loss and weight problem. My symptoms, I learned, were a result of a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS.

As it turns out, PCOS and fatigue are both linked to an imbalance of the endocrine system and are characterized by an excess of male hormones. Fatigue, a symptom commonly associated with PCOS, is also closely linked to the thyroid and adrenal glands. At the heart of both of these issues, however, is a disorder known as Insulin Resistance.

Insulin Resistance, a condition that vastly reduces the insulin sensitivity of cells, impairs the processing of glucose through the cell wall for conversion to energy. As a result, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated blood sugar, which is sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar is converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, also key factors in women with PCOS.

To add insult to injury, fatigue frequently causes women with PCOS to treat their low energy with carbs and caffeine, which dumps more glucose into the blood in a never-ending spiral of weight gain and increasing insulin and glucose levels. As fatigue and insulin resistance worsen, excess fat cells produce too much of another hormone, estrogen.

Stress is another contributor to both fatigue and PCOS. Although the original purpose of the stress response was to provide a momentary burst of energy in order to fight or run away, stress has become a continual presence in our lives today. Cortisol, the hormone produced by the adrenal glands when we are stressed, is vital to our functioning as long as it is in appropriate amounts. During stress, excess cortisol causes an increase in glucose and insulin to enable our muscles and heart to handle the stress. But with today’s stressors we don’t respond like early humans. We don’t utilize the glucose by running or fighting and so the glucose stays elevated. Excess levels of cortisol can contribute to Insulin Resistance as well as other hormonal imbalances.

Because I was always so embarrassed to talk about what I classified as “failures” as a mother and adult woman, I never thought that I might actually have a condition that I could reverse. As it turns out, there are several things I could do, the most effective of which was to try Insulite Laboratories’ 5 Element System to reverse the symptoms caused by PCOS. Combining nutrition, exercise, vitamins, support and awareness programs,Insulite Labsworks with you to make the changes necessary to create a whole new you… one with lots of energy and renewed outlook on life.

About the Author:

Heather Bishara lives in South Riding, VA, is a mother of two boys ages 1 and 4 and works as a business consultant for www.tricalyx.com part-time from home. She continues on her journey for relief from her PCOS through a low carb diet, exercise, and the use of herbs and dietary supplements such as those found in the Insulite PCOS System.

Are you trying to get pregnant and you have PCOS? Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) who experience infertility, often feel very alone in their quest to conceive a child. Did you know that PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility?

PCOS can occur in girls as young as 11 and has been shown to be a precursor to more serious health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And though there are many symptoms associated with PCOS, infertility is certainly one of the more heartbreaking and emotionally draining ones for women in their childbearing years who want to become pregnant.

If you have been diagnosed with infertility associated with PCOS, below are 10 suggestions that may help:
1. Understand the root cause of PCOS.
Insulin resistance, defined as the prevention of the efficient conversion of food into energy, is commonly believed to be the root cause of PCOS. Insulin resistance causes hormonal imbalances in women with PCOS making them unable to ovulate and, as a result, may cause difficulties in conceiving.
There are many resources out there to help you learn more about insulin resistance and PCOS such as Insulite Labs PCOS web site. If you understand the issues, you can better understand and deal with PCOS. Many women with PCOS have become pregnant naturally.
2. Find a good doctor.
As PCOS gains more ground in the medical community, many doctors are becoming more specialized in this area. If your doctor does not work directly with PCOS patients or seems uninterested or unwilling to work with you to overcome the symptoms of this disease, find a new one immediately! The PCOSA website has a great list of state-by-state medical professionals to get you started: www.pcosupport.org
3. Adopt healthy eating habits.
Although not all women with PCOS experience weight gain, they all can benefit from adopting healthy eating habits. Eating healthy foods low in sugar and carbohydrates has proven to help women balance their insulin levels and, as a result, control the symptoms caused by PCOS. The resulting weight loss and overall benefits from eating healthily can sometimes help women improve hormone imbalances and restore normal periods and ovulation, and in some cases enable them to become pregnant without the use of infertility drugs.

4. Learn about food addictions.

Do you ever wonder why you always seem hungry and can never fill that craving or fight the urge to eat? Well you are not the only one! Many women with PCOS constantly complain about how hard it is to give up foods high in carbs and high in sugar in their quest to lose weight and/or eat more healthily.

Addiction to carbohydrates and sugars is driven by the profound ability of these negative foods to stimulate dopamine, serotonin and endorphin brain circuits which, as a result, produces feelings of pleasure and contentment as well as dulls emotional and physical pain. If you can slowly reduce your consumption of carbs and sugars then your brain will begin to accept that eating a smaller amount of these negative foods is your new normal. In essence, you are addressing your food addiction by replacing the addiction with a healthy alternative which will help you both physically and mentally deal with the fertility issues facing you today.
5. Exercise every day.
Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is especially important for women with PCOS who are trying to conceive because the endorphins that are released when you exercise increase the dopamine in your system. This process can help you deal with your food addictions because the same chemical reaction occurs when you exercise as when you eat foods high in carbs and sugars: it gives you the feeling of satisfaction and pleasure. Exercising will also benefit your mental health by helping you keep a positive attitude, deal better with stress, and maintain higher self esteem during this difficult time in your life. Equally as important, exercise directly addresses insulin resistance by increasing glucose disposal and enhancing muscle, which boosts insulin sensitivity.
6. Remember your husband/partner.
While you obviously have physical and emotional issues to deal with, try not to forget about your husband/partner. Men, for example, often experience frustration and sadness associated with infertility issues but do not feel comfortable expressing their feelings about it. The best thing to do is talk directly about the issue, remind yourselves why you wanted to have a baby in the first place and remember that this is a journey that both of you share. Both of you will benefit from this kind of direct conversation.
7. Keep it real.
Anyone who has been through this knows that while TV makes getting pregnant look fun and glamorous, trying to get pregnant can become systematic and monotonous, almost a chore! Communicating with your partner about your expectations will help everyone deal better with the situation. It may also help lighten up the mood and make things a little more spontaneous!
8. Seek support.
As stated above, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. If you are feeling lonely and thinking that no one in your immediate circle of friends or family understand what you are going through, reach out to other women with PCOS and infertility issues. There are many PCOS support groups online that you can access. If you can’t find one that fits your needs, ask your doctor for information about local support groups or start one yourself for women in your area.
9. Be thankful.
I know what you are thinking! Be thankful? For what? The challenge here is to look objectively at the facts. You have a diagnosis. You are working with your doctor. There are steps you can take to increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Many women out there do not have the first clue that they have PCOS and therefore cannot take any steps toward achieving their goal of conceiving a child. So, yes, be thankful!
10. Give it time.
The worst thing that women with PCOS who are trying to get pregnant can do is watch the clock. The stress it puts on the body and soul is extremely damaging. If you can work closely with your doctor, adopt a healthy lifestyle, vent to your support group about your feelings, and make a concerted effort to relax, chances are you will significantly increase your potential for becoming pregnant.

For some PCOS may have been an added abbreviation to your vocabulary from an early age for others it may still be a stranger living inside your body. Whatever the case, this article and other articles on this website will help you understand PCOS. You’ll find added information for understanding and treating PCOS effectively as well as personal accounts of those dealing with the disease.

PCOS (a.k.a. Stein-Leventhal Syndrome) refers to a condition that primarily affects those between the ages of 15 to 35 years, and occurs when there is an imbalance within a woman’s endocrine system resulting in cystic build up within the ovaries. It affects between 8-15% of women in the United States alone.

The imbalance includes higher than normal blood levels of estrogen, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and decreased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). As a result of this imbalance, under-developed follicles accumulate in the ovaries, rather than maturing and releasing during ovulation.

As the follicles accumulate, cysts are formed producing pelvic pain. Further, due to lack of ovulation, those with PCOS often suffer from pelvic pain, irregular menses (periods), and may have difficulty getting pregnant.

Insulin resistance appears to play a key role in PCOS. In addition to other hormones, insulin helps regulate ovarian function. When someone has insulin resistance, cells throughout the body do not readily respond to the insulin within the blood. As a result, the insulin level within the blood remains high. These high levels may contribute to lack of ovulation, high androgen levels, infertility, and early pregnancy loss. High androgen levels correlate with weight gain, acne, decreased breast size, and increased hair growth in areas that are typical to males (face, chest, abdomen, and back). This is referred to as Hirsutism. Having insulin resistance also contributes to high levels of glucose and lipid levels within the blood, placing a person at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Now for some of you, all of this may still seem like a foreign language, medical jargon aiming to throw you off track when all you’re trying to do is figure out what has overtaken your body. Rest assured everyone feels the same way when they are first diagnosed with PCOS, but after talking to your doctor and reading through our Web site your knowledge of PCOS will evolve. Rest assured you’re not alone and remember to do something nice for yourself. Keeping fresh flowers in my house is a wonderful gift I give myself!

Living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can sometimes be a over-whelming task. Many of the side effects caused by the disease such as adult acne, infertility, weight gain and excessive facial or body hair can be difficult to control. Additionally, the emotions associated with presenting ones self to the public when facing such challenges- and an overall lack of self-esteem - can, at times, seem impossible to overcome.

But there is hope! Research has shown that women living with PCOS who adopt positive lifestyles can overcome the symptoms caused by this disease. Here are ten tips for living with, and managing, the symptoms caused by PCOS. You may want to post this list on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror as a gentle reminder to yourself.

1. Adopt healthy eating habits.
All women with PCOS can benefit from adopting healthy eating habits. By eating a diet low in carbohydrates and refined sugars you can help reverse the imbalances of glucose and insulin in your body that cause PCOS symptoms to flair up.

2. Fit exercise into your daily routine.
Although everyone should find time to exercise, it is especially important for women with PCOS to fit some form of exercise into their daily routine. Whether it is a 20-minute walk, playing outside with your kids, or going to a Pilates class, exercise has proven to boost metabolism and burn calories which helps to control insulin levels and, in turn, results in weight loss. Exercise can also help to stave off diabetes, a health risk for women in PCOS.

3. Avoid stimulants.
Having a cup of coffee (or two or three…) has become such a part of our culture that giving it up may seem impossible. However, coffee and other stimulants cause increases in insulin production which have proven to have a negative impact on women with PCOS. If you are serious about controlling your insulin levels, you really need to consider giving up that cup of Joe.

4. Get regular physical exams.
Women with PCOS have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. They are also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol. Meeting regularly with your doctor to monitor and treat these issues will help you stay healthy until the symptoms come under control through the adoption of healthy eating and exercise habits.

5. Relax.
Women with PCOS are more prone towards experiencing depression and mood swings. They often find themselves emotionally frustrated when their own bodies seem to purposefully work against them. Whether dealing with weight issues or having difficulty conceiving, PCOS can take a toll on your emotional well-being, so take a bubble bath, watch an old movie, or do something else that you really enjoy doing. It can make the biggest difference in how you feel on the inside.

6. Seek support networks.
Although it may feel like it, you are definitely not alone in your struggle with PCOS. There are thousands of women out there who are experiencing the same symptoms and emotions that you are. Do not be shy. These are the women who will lift you up when you are feeling down. If you can’t find a group then start one and promote it online, in local newspapers, via flyers and at schools, college and health clubs.

7. Ask questions.
With PCOS, there is no one size fits all solution to control the disease. Symptoms vary with each person so you really need to ask questions of your physicians and do research on your own to find a regimen that will work best for you.

8. Get help if you are depressed.
PCOS can make you feel melancholy, especially given the multitude of physical and emotional challenges that can develop as a result of this disease. If you are feeling more than a little sad and cannot shake the feeling of disillusionment associated with the condition, get help. The fact is you can live a positive life even when dealing with PCOS. Getting help is the first step towards achieving that goal.

9. See a specialist.
As PCOS gets more attention from physicians, the media and others, there are more and more treatment options being offered. For example, Insulite Labs of Boulder, CO has created a five step approach that incorporates nutraceuticals, nutrition, exercise, food addiction awareness and support networks to help reverse the symptoms caused by PCOS. If you are having trouble finding a physician who will treat you for PCOS, you should check out the state-by-state list of medical professionals who have shown a commitment to PCOS located on the PCOSA website www.pocsupport.org .

10. Maintain a positive attitude.
Maintaining a positive attitude is essential to realizing positive outcomes in any aspect of life. Be positive and create opportunities for yourself that can help you realize your dreams. Just because you have PCOS does not mean you cannot live your best life!

PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a major cause of infertility. A symptom of the condition, often referred to as polycystic ovaries, can be nine or fewer menstrual cycles per year. This is the result of the ovaries failing to produce hormones that keep the menstrual cycle regular. When women with PCOS have infrequent or no ovulation, they may be unable to become pregnant. Many women suffering from PCOS seek fertility treatment.

Most heterosexual women with PCOS try Assisted Reproductive Therapy (ART) before proceeding to in vitro fertilization (IFV). ART does not have the risks or the costs of IVF. Since the main reason women with PCOS have trouble conceiving is erratic menstrual cycles, ovulation induction is the most common ART method used.

Ovulation induction often involves taking Clomid, one of the most popular fertility drugs prescribed, to encourage ovulation by stimulating ovary follicles. Women with PCOS may be all too familiar with Clomid side-effects: mood swings, hot flashes and headaches and may choose an alternative fertility drug after several unsuccessful cycles, or move on to IVF.

Artificial insemination (AI), another form Assisted Reproductive Therapy, involves the injection of sperm, either from a known donor (this person may be the woman’s unmarried partner, a friend or even family member of the non-biological partner) or from a donor bank, directly into the cervix or uterus. AI is not typically used in heterosexual couples where PCOS is the only obstacle to conception. AI is a common treatment when the male has a low sperm count or the female suffers from endometriosis.

Because PCOS seems to be more prevalent among lesbians, female couples opting for a combination of ART and artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization over adoption may be more likely to face the challenges of conceiving with PCOS. And with the recent “Gayby Boom,” the trend of lesbians and gays becoming parents, the number of lesbians undergoing ART and IVF is on the rise.

“Each year we’re seeing an annual increase of about 50 percent in the number of same-sex couples coming to us for IVF to have their children and build their families,” said Dr. Samuel Pang, Medical Director of the Reproductive Science Center of New England.

In vitro fertilization is a complex, expensive procedure used as a last resort when all other methods of assisted conception have failed. One cycle of IVF may cost as much as $12,000. Risks include: Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb), multiple pregnancy, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and the possibility of increased risk for ovarian cancer. IFV success rates vary from clinic to clinic. The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), representing over 85% of ART clinics in the United States, provides national statistics of member clinics.

Before undergoing ART, women with PCOS may consider non-pharmaceutical methods to achieve conception. One of the underlying causes of PCOS is insulin resistance, and when this condition is reversed natural conception may be achieved. Non-pharmaceutical methods include: a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, with lots of green vegetables and fruits, specific exercises to increase insulin sensitivity, nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals and herbs that are disease specific) to balance blood sugar or a complete system that incorporates all of these elements.

A Woman suffering from PCOS tells her story of conceiving naturally, after being told by doctors she would never be able to conceive naturally. She became pregnant after using a complete system approach from Insulite Labs to reverse insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms.

References
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
2004 Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rates

American Reproductive Medical Society
Fertility and Sterility
November 2007 | Vol. 88, No. 5

Excessive weight around the waist and stubborn pounds that won’t come off with diet and exercise may be from an undiagnosed medical condition, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS.

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among females, affecting anywhere from 5-10 percent of pre-menopausal women. PCOS wreaks havoc on hormones: irregular amounts of insulin stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of testosterone. The result can be weight gain and obesity, along with symptoms such as male-pattern baldness, excess body hair and infertility.

Many women with PCOS gain weight around their abdomen, taking on an apple shape rather than a pear shape. Women with PCOS may gain weight very easily and lose it only with great effort, usually with a diet of good carbohydrates, fresh vegetables and protein, together with exercise.

Insulin Resistance is often the root cause of PCOS and the direct link to this type of weight gain. Insulin is the hormone responsible for allowing glucose, or blood sugar, to be absorbed by your cells, where it is converted to energy. If you are Insulin Resistant your cells react sluggishly to insulin, causing feelings of constant hunger while inhibiting weight loss.

The interactions of Insulin Resistance, PCOS and obesity are complex and still under medical review. Many scientists believe that this is a case of “the chicken or the egg” - Insulin Resistance contributes to obesity and is an underlying cause of PCOS, but obesity in turn worsens Insulin Resistance, which then has an effect on the development of PCOS.

Because symptoms can vary widely from woman to woman, PCOS can often go undiagnosed for years. Possible symptoms include: weight gain, obesity, excess facial and body hair, thinning hair on your head, acne, skin tags, brown skin patches, depression, anxiety, irregular periods, and even infertility. Long term, PCOS can lead to serious conditions such as Diabetes.

If you feel you may be suffering from PCOS try the self-test at Insulite Labs to assess your risk.

I hate roller coasters. The big kind, the small kind, and everything in between. But most of all, I hate the weight loss roller coaster. This is probably because I can never seem to get off of it. Up and down, round and round I go… where I’ll stop nobody seems to know. That’s the biggest problem: while the man-made kind only lasts a few minutes, the weight loss kind seems to last forever.

So why can’t I lose the weight permanently? Some would chalk it up to lack of self control. I’d go with that explanation except that I seem to have extreme self control in other parts of my life. I’m not an excessive shopper. I stick to my budget every month. My house is fairly clean. I rarely drink. So lack of self control doesn’t seem to jive with other areas of my life.

Irritated with myself, I decided to go to the doctor. When she told me I had a medical issue, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) that causes me to be more at risk of gaining weight I thought “Great! Now I can take a pill to get over it.” Wrong.

There is no cure for PCOS. Rather the solution is to find a new way of living that allows my body to operate in the most efficient way it can. Lucky for me, the doctor had some information for me to read on the subject. I also went home and did additional research. One of the best places I’ve found for information on PCOS is at Insulite Labs. Here’s what I learned from them:

• Women with PCOS suffer from a condition known as insulin resistance which causes the body to produce inadequate amounts of insulin to effectively convert food to energy. One side effect is the body craves carbs which can lead to weight gain.

• A low-carb diet has proved to be effective not only in weight loss programs but also in helping to control the production of insulin in the pancreas. But keep in mind that females of normal weight and lean women can also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and insulin resistance.

• Exercise is a main component of dealing with the symptoms of PCOS. Exercise increases the sensitivity of your cell walls to insulin for the vital conversion of glucose to energy; it boosts metabolism, burns calories and helps to level out the production of insulin the pancreas.
• Choose a balanced, healthy diet that doesn’t include refined carbohydrates, like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, corn and refined sugars. Avoid artificial sweeteners which can raise insulin levels.
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. Even over-the-counter cold medications can contain stimulants, causing spikes in insulin production and release.
• Your doctor may need to address collateral issues such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol issue with medication until they come under control naturally with your weight loss and healthier lifestyle.
• Find a PCOS support group to chat with women who are going through the same experience as you are as it can be frustrating to find common ground with others around you who can lose weight and/or maintain it more easily.
So the bottom line is that I have to go farther than most people to keep the weight in check. I need to crave discipline in diet and exercise, not carbs. I need to seek balance in my life, not in junk food. And most of all, after all of the self reflection and research, I’ve learned that I actually am in control of this roller coaster ride. I just needed a little extra training in amusement park operations to find out how to get off of it with my confidence and self-esteem firmly in place.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-10 percent of pre-menopausal women, making it the most common female endocrine disorder. PCOS wreaks havoc on hormones: excessive amounts of insulin stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of testosterone. The result can be irregular periods and infertility, along with symptoms such as male-pattern baldness, fatigue, excess body hair, and obesity. The long term health risks for women with PCOS include diabetes and cardiovascular disease among others.
Stanford University has clearly identified the existence and effects of insulin resistance, a metabolic disorder and the major underlying cause of PCOS. Treating insulin resistance will help you to manage or reverse PCOS symptoms. Most importantly, this can be done naturally, without the use of prescription drugs.

1. Nutraceuticals: Nature’s Medicine
Metabolic change cannot be achieved with a single ingredient. But the right combination of disease specific herbs, vitamins and minerals can help restore your body’s metabolism. Minerals such as chromium, magnesium, and zinc work to control insulin and glucose levels. Vitamin C and folic acid promote a healthy circulatory system. The herbs fenugreek and milk thistle also help to control insulin and glucose levels. Guar Gum can reduce bad cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Insulite Labs‘ nutraceuticals are formulated to reverse insulin resistance and PCOS. Fish Oils or Omega- 3 fatty acids are included in the Insulite Labs’ supplements and are recommended by every doctor I know to help reduce inflammation in your body and help your body repair itself faster. To buy Omega-3’s separately online, I like UltraOmega1200.com. Their prices are good and they have a money back guarantee.

2. Nutrition: Swap “Bad” Carbs for “Good” Carbs
All women with PCOS can benefit from adopting healthy eating habits. By eating a diet low in carbohydrates and refined sugars you can help reverse the imbalances of glucose and insulin in your body. Avoid “bad” carbohydrates like sweets, white bread, pasta and rice. Replace these with “good” carbohydrates that stabilize blood sugar like brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread.

3. Exercise: Part of Your Daily Routine
Although everyone should find time to exercise, it is especially important for women with PCOS to fit some form of exercise into their daily routine. Whether it is a 20-minute walk, playing outside with your kids, or going to a Pilates class, exercise has proven to boost metabolism and burn calories which helps to control insulin levels and, in turn, results in weight loss. Exercise can also help to stave off diabetes, a health risk for women in PCOS.

4. Food Addiction: Break the Cycle
Consuming “bad” or simple carbohydrates and sugars can create a vicious cycle of ups and downs. Eating sweets and chips may give you a temporary high by causing a surge in blood sugar and serotonin, but the crash is sure to follow, leaving you craving more. By weaning yourself from simple sugars and carbohydrates and replacing them with complex carbohydrates and lean protein throughout the day you can maintain stable glucose and insulin levels and break the cycle of food addiction.

5. Find a Support Network: You Are Not Alone
You are not alone in your struggle with PCOS. There are millions of women worldwide experiencing the same symptoms and emotions. These are the women who will lift you up when you are feeling down. Visit the blogs and online communities like Insulite Labs’ pcos blog and soulcysters.net. If you can’t find a support group in your area then start one and promote it online, in local newspapers, via flyers and at schools, college and health clubs. www.pcosupport.org has a state-by-state list of medical professionals who have shown a commitment to PCOS located on the PCOSA web site.