Dietary Recomendations for PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Dietary Recomendations for PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

In Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) the body produces increased male hormones which are converted into estrogen. In an obese woman, estrogen is also stored in fat cells. Because estrogen is normally made from the developing follicles, the brain's hypothalamus, confused by the constant level of estrogen, assumes that it is due to a developing egg inside the follicle. Therefore, the hypothalamus tells the pituitary gland to stop or slow down the release of follicle stimulating hormone. Thus, the follicles don't mature and burst, and ovulation never occurs. Instead the follicle turn into small cysts on the ovaries. There have been very few good nutritional studies done on PCOS, and the only nutritional recommendations currently given is that PCOS sufferers should shed their excess weight. We have two suggestions: One is that you follow the general guidelines for anovulation. The other is that you consume yams, and elevate your levels of vitamin B6. The second suggestion is since PCOS can often be characterized by elevated Prolactin levels try following the dietary guidelines for elevated Prolactin levels: eliminate alcohol, marijuana, aspartame, dioxins in meat and dairy, too much protein and too strenuous exercise.