PCOS is a common condition that affects millions of women worldwide.
In this article, we’ll talk about what it is, what its symptoms look like, and what causes it. We’ll also look at different natural ingredients and supplements people use to help with their PCOS.
What is PCOS?
PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. It’s a condition partially caused by hormone regulation and insulin resistance that affects a woman’s reproductive hormone levels.
Polycystic ovary syndrome doesn’t affect all women in the same way, and some women get hit harder by it than others.
Potential PCOS Symptoms
PCOS results in a wide variety of symptoms that women will experience at varying levels depending on the severity of their condition.
- Irregular periods
- Hair growth
- Weight gain
- Darkening of the skin
- Heavy bleeding
- Acne
- Thinning of the hair/possible male-pattern baldness
- Headaches
These symptoms are caused by the aforementioned hormonal imbalance. The big problem is that doctors don’t quite know what exactly causes that imbalance.
All they know is that some women are affected by it. Some speculate that either a woman’s genes, insulin resistance, or inflammation-caused bodily damage (or a mix of the three) cause PCOS.
If you think you have PCOS, you should go see a doctor before doing anything else.
Getting your condition officially diagnosed will help you determine the severity of your condition and how serious you have to be in treating it. Once you’ve got an official diagnosis, you should follow your doctor’s treatment regimen, change your diet, and supplement these first two efforts with other natural ingredients.
The Best Supplements to help with PCOS
Nothing is going to replace a good diet and your doctor’s suggestions.
The fact is, a healthy diet, weight, and medical treatments are necessary for getting hormonal conditions like PCOS under control. In some cases, dietary changes such as adding more iron to your diet and eating more whole foods can be beneficial. That being said, you can supplement these efforts through more natural means. Taking a supplement can help you improve your symptoms.
If you’re looking for specific, natural ingredients that can help with PCOS, here's a few ingredients that could potentially help.
1. Maca root
Maca is a plant that’s grown on the mountainsides of Peru. Maca gives food an earthy taste to it. Not only is maca used as a flavor enhancer, but its root is used by people who want to try and boost fertility and libido.
People also use maca root because they want to balance their hormones and lower their cortisol levels. Many people with either depression or PCOS try to reduce their symptoms with maca root.
Harmony is rich in maca rooted and can be a solid option to help balance hormone levels.
2. Antioxidants
We already mentioned that some medical experts believe that inflammation is at least partially responsible for PCOS.
Inflammation is any sort of swelling in your body that’s caused by chemical compounds more commonly known as free radicals. Antioxidants are another group of chemical compounds that can help reduce the oxidative stress (inflaming effect) of free radicals.
The best way to consume more antioxidants is by increasing your fruit and veggie consumption. Likewise, a great way to reduce your free radical consumption is to reduce your processed and fatty food consumption.
If you're looking to add more antioxidants to your diet beyond changes in what you're eating, 1st Phorm’s Opti-Greens 50 and Opti-Reds 50 are both rich in antioxidants and good be fantastic options for you.
3. Ashwagandha
People use ashwagandha because they believe they can treat their unbalanced cortisol levels with it. It's also used to help with energy and focus throughout the day.
It’s also used by some to help improve stress levels and other related symptoms. Some even use ashwagandha to help treat their PCOS.
Harmony contains ashwagandha as well as Maca root, making it a solid supplement option to help balance hormone levels.
4. Vitamin D
One of the most important vitamins to supplement for women with PCOS is Vitamin D, which is known as the sunshine vitamin.
That’s because your body produces it when it’s exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D, along with calcium, plays an important role in maintaining and improving bone health.
But it can also help to control certain serum levels which affect the body’s anti-inflammatory processes. As well as helps in hormone production!
5. Chasteberry
Chasteberry goes by a lot of other names, but that doesn’t matter so much.
If you’re looking for it, people will know what you mean if you ask for chasteberry. It’s grown in the Mediterranean regions and is used for various ailments.
Chasteberry has been used for centuries to help with different kinds of fertility-related conditions including many of the symptoms that are part of PCOS.
Harmony contains chasteberry as well as ashwagandha and maca root
Can Supplements Help With PCOS?
Once again, if you think you have PCOS the first step is to consult your doctor. Then the second step is to follow their recommended protocol as supplements are not intended to treat a medical condition.
There are certain natural supplements listed above that can potentially help with symptoms of PCOS but before you use them, you will want to check with your doctor.
Since each person's PCOS symptoms and situation can be different and unique to them, having a plan to help overcome the symptoms needs to hit the individual's needs. Supplements ay be an important part of that plan.
As always, making sure to have a good nutritional plan and drinking water are always good practices as well.
