No More PCOS With A Ketovore Diet
What is PCOS?
Many a woman has suffered with dreaded ovarian cysts. The scary thing is that no less than one in ten women between mid-teens and mid-forties endure this agonizing condition, yet most are unaware of it.
What is PCOS? PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is a hormonal imbalance that occurs in women within childbearing age. This imbalance generally is caused by excess androgens (male sex hormones) and can cause issues with ovulation; instead of the ovary releasing an egg as it should every month, the egg does not develop properly, the egg follicle turning into a cyst on the ovary, thus causing infertility issues within the woman.
But the term ‘polycystic’ can be misleading, as not all women with this condition have polycystic ovaries (PCOS, n.d.). And there are many symptoms that a woman can display, yet it would be unusual for any one woman with PCOS to exhibit all of these symptoms at once.
Aside from infertility, two very common symptoms of PCOS are high levels of androgens, and long, painful, and heavy menstrual cycles (Polycystic, 2017). Here is a more comprehensive list:
Symptoms of PCOS:
High levels of male sex hormones
All women have some male hormones, or androgens; however, sometimes these levels escalate and can cause issues such as male pattern baldness, or hirsutism (Jayaraman, 2018).
Irregular periods
Women who suffer with PCOS often miss periods, or the time between periods may vary from month to month.
Infertility
When a woman fails to ovulate on a regular basis, it can be very difficult to conceive.
Gestational diabetes
Thanks to insulin resistance, women with PCOS are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes (Jayaraman, 2018).
Ovarian cysts
Instead of the ovary releasing an egg as it should, the egg does not develop properly, and a cyst forms on the ovary. Women with PCOS can have multiple cysts on each ovary. If and when these cysts burst, it can be very painful.
Not Enough Progesterone
Not having enough progesterone contributes heavily to hormone imbalance—particularly when the woman is already experiencing raised levels of androgens and/or estrogen.
Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is yet another way a woman’s hormones can be out of balance. This may be more of a problem than most people know, as there are many ingredients in household items that we use and processed foods that we eat every day that mimic estrogen. When we use or consume things that are estrogen-mimicking, our bodies recognize them as estrogen.
Miscarriages
The risk of miscarriages increases significantly if a woman suffers with PCOS and manages to conceive (Jayaraman, 2018).
Hirsutism
One of the least enjoyable symptoms of PCOS is hirsutism, or the excess growth of body hair. This symptom can be difficult to deal with, as no woman wants to grow hair like a man on her face, chest, arms, or legs.
Hypertension during pregnancy
Even if a woman’s blood pressure is generally normal, if she has PCOS there is a good chance that her blood pressure could rise to unhealthy levels during pregnancy (Jayaraman, 2018).
Weight loss
Not all women with PCOS are overweight; in fact, about one-third of women with PCOS are at a normal weight range or even under weight. These women might appear to be healthier, but they are often experiencing significant stress levels which put them at risk for other health problems.
Mood swings
With such extreme hormonal imbalances can often come bouts of sadness, anxiety, and/or depression (Jayaraman, 2018).
Darkening & thickening of the skin
This is when dark areas occur on the skin where skin tends to rub against itself—such as around the neck, underarms, and groin area.
Upper body weight gain
Women with PCOS who exhibit the insulin resistance symptom and high levels of androgens often experience unexplained weight gain around the upper body—in particular, the arms, neck, and shoulder areas (Jayaraman, 2018).
Skin tags
A skin tag is a small skin grown that some PCOS sufferers experience; these growths generally occur within skin folds such as in the underarms, neck, or groin areas (Jayaraman, 2018).
Painful periods
If the pain a woman feels during her menstrual cycle exceeds that of normal menstrual pain, she may have PCOS.
Pain during intercourse
Unfortunately, some women even experience pain in their pelvic region during sex, which can obviously dampen the mood in the bedroom.
Brain fog
Some PCOS sufferers may have a hard time concentrating; this symptom can occur when the woman experiences hormone imbalance, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and high blood sugar (Jayaraman, 2018).
Moon face
This symptom can occur when hormone imbalance causes excess amounts of cortisol—a stress hormone that can contribute to extra fat deposits around the face, causing it to look round and swollen (Jayaraman, 2018).
Inability to lose weight
This symptom is arguably the most challenging of all PCOS symptoms. We have always learned that eating healthy foods and getting sufficient amounts of exercise will assure us of a fit body, but that is rarely the case with women suffering with PCOS—particularly if one of the symptoms she exhibits is insulin resistance.
Stretch marks
Excess stretch marks on a woman’s body could be a sign of PCOS.
Adult Acne
The dreaded adult pimples. Any woman experiencing an abnormal amount of acne who has long since exited puberty, might have PCOS.
Breathlessness
Women with PCOS may have an increased risk of asthma—particularly women who have been on birth control pills (Jayaraman, 2018).
Hair loss
Another very difficult symptom for women who suffer with PCOS is a loss of hair at the crown of the head, or male pattern baldness.
Edema (swelling of the breasts, abdomen, feet, ankles, and legs)
A common symptom of PCOS is swelling in various parts of the body due to fluid retention (Jayaraman, 2018).
Inability to gain weight
Young teenaged girls suffering with PCOS may experience difficulty gaining weight due to hormone imbalance (Jayaraman, 2018).
Sleep Problems
There are several reasons a person can experience poor sleep, but many women who suffer from PCOS report not getting sufficient rest. Often, people do not take this particular problem seriously, but a lack of sleep can affect every part of one’s life. One should make it a priority to obtain ample sleep; some experts advise 8-9 hours per night.
Body pain
Chronic Inflammation can cause women with PCOS to experience significant pain in their back, neck, hips, and joints.
Fatigue
Many women experience this symptom and don’t even realize it. They become so accustomed to getting tired so easily that they simply dismiss it or write it off as not getting enough rest, or taking on too many activities.
Oiliness of the face
Immoderate amounts of oils on a woman’s face are often caused by excess androgens in her system, and unfortunately can lead to adult acne (Jayaraman, 2018).
Long & heavy periods
Excessively long periods that exceed seven days is another symptom of PCOS. A woman may also experience large blood clots (also known as menorrhagia) during this time (Jayaraman, 2018).
Headaches & Migraines
Many PCOS sufferers report having an increased amount of headaches or migraines; this is yet another effect of hormone imbalance (Jayaraman, 2018).
Causes of PCOS and Many Other Ailments
In short…it’s the food (well, stress can also be a contributor, please see my blog post ’29 Ways to Combat Stress’); it’s what we consume, (food, medicine, toxic additives in food and medicines) and the length of time we have been consuming these things. I have other blog posts that go more in depth about this, but the leaders of the food and medical industries have an agenda, and it is sinister.
Big Pharma and Big Food are not for you—they are for themselves. Do yourself and your loved ones a huge favor and unindoctrinate yourself; throw out most of what you’ve learned about foods that are supposedly healthy, and medicines that will supposedly help you.
Contributors of PCOS
Diet
Estrogen Dominance (which can be helped with a good diet)
Birth Control Pills
Inflammation (which can be helped with a good diet)
Stress
Heredity (which can be helped with a good diet—no kidding!)
How Heredity Contributes to PCOS
Some scientists say that PCOS must be genetic, but studies thus far have proven to be inconclusive. I’ll go out on a limb and say that PCOS likely does have to do with our genes, as there are just too many instances of women in the same families suffering with the condition. One source I found felt that the origins of PCOS had more to do with epigenetics—which basically means ‘the study of how genes can be switched on and off’ (Is PCOS Genetic?, n.d.).
Epigenetics holds that one can have a particular gene, but depending on their environment, that gene can be switched on or off. In other words, a set of twins can have the genes for PCOS, but if placed in two separate environments, with different living conditions—such as different air to breathe, different food to eat, and different household products to use—the health outcome can be different for each.
According to epigenetics, in the right environment, someone with PCOS could switch off those genes, and completely reverse their condition (Is PCOS Genetic?, n.d.). I tend to agree; we do not have to let our genes decide the level of health we want for our lives.
How Birth Control Pills Contribute to PCOS
There is one drug in particular that I believe has affected my life worse than any other: Birth Control Pills. You know the old saying—‘If I only knew then what I know now.’ Well I am telling you right now what I wish someone would have told me: Stay away from birth control pills!
The birth control pill’s job is to disrupt communication between the brain and the ovaries, which causes ovulation to cease (The Cause of PCOS, n.d.). ‘Post-pill PCOS’—a term coined by Dr. Lara Briden, a naturopathic doctor and author of ‘The Period Repair Manual’—is when a woman stops taking the pill, yet the communication between her brain and ovaries never resumes like it’s supposed to (The Cause of PCOS, n.d.).
Millions of young women begin taking birth control pills after being advised to do so by their physicians. They do so completely unaware of the damage they’re doing to their bodies, and how much suffering their futures hold because of it.
How Estrogen Dominance Contributes to PCOS
Above I mentioned estrogen dominance. Among many other health issues, estrogen dominance can be the cause of PCOS.
What is estrogen dominance? It is a condition in which a person’s estrogen levels are out of balance with—and generally exceeding—that of their other sexual hormones; in women this would be progesterone, and in men it would be testosterone.
Estrogen dominance has become a very serious problem in many parts of the world—particularly in the U.S. One huge contributor of this problem is xenoestrogens, which are xenohormones that mimic estrogen. Because so many of these counterfeit hormones have infiltrated our households, there are millions suffering with diseases and ailments of all kinds—including PCOS—and they aren’t even aware of it.
Where have these xenoestrogens been hiding? Here is a list of just some of the places where xenoestrogens hide:
Sources of Xenoestrogens:
Hygiene Products
BPA Linings of plastic containers & canned foods
Medications
Most meat and dairy
Tap Water
Cigarettes
Alcohol
Food additives
Household products
Pesticides, herbicides, & fungicides
Vehicle exhaust fumes
Dry cleaning products
For a more comprehensive list, and to find out more about Estrogen Dominance please read ‘What is Estrogen Dominance?’
How Diet and Inflammation Contribute to PCOS
In addition to eating foods high in xenoestrogens, another contributor of PCOS is the consumption of grains. The problem here is three-fold. Not only are most (if not all) grains now GMO, but they are also full of mold. So although our ancestors from thousands of years ago ate grains, we are certainly not eating the same grains they ate.
The introduction of GMO’s has wreaked havoc on the human race since its inception mere decades ago. I don’t have room to cover the topic in depth in this post, but in short, they are responsible for digestive problems; sterility; birth defects; cancer; autism; and of course, hormone disruption and reproductive disorders, just to name a few (Smith, 2011).
The second of the three-fold problem I mentioned—mold—has mainly to do with the way grain is stored. In the U.S., for instance, grain is stored in enormous silos. Within these silos where the grain sits for long periods of time, fungus (mold) begins to feed. When the grain is transferred from the silos to our dinner table, we then eat the grain that has the mold. When ingested, the mold attacks our bodies by spewing mycotoxins; these mycotoxins cause inflammation, and as many of us know, inflammation causes disease. Which diseases? Well, all of them—arguably anyway.
And the third issue with grains is that they turn to sugar once we eat them. So you know all the horrible things you’ve heard about sugar? Well, the same goes for grains. No, it does not matter if the label says ‘whole grains,’ or ‘multi-grain,’ or any other healthy-sounding grain; your body will still recognize the grain as sugar, and process it accordingly. And as most of us know, the continuous consumption of excess sugar can eventually lead to insulin resistance, one of the symptoms of PCOS, (and also the prelude to Type 2 Diabetes).
How Stress Contributes to PCOS
Well this should be an easy one. I’ve watched videos and read articles about various countries where the people live simply and lead reasonably stress-free lives. Some communities help one another build houses; others share the burden of the work, and share food; there is always enough for everyone because everyone shares what they have; everyone pulls their own weight; and no one has any debt!
But we Americans are different, aren’t we? We’ve been told since birth that the only life worth living is the one where we strive for the American dream. And what is the American dream? To go to college and rack up college debt; buy a house and rack up mortgage debt; buy stuff to put in said house, racking up even more debt; and to do all of this while working a very stressful job that you acquired after obtaining your degree, that will take you ages to pay off.
I didn’t even mention all the expenses there could be if you get married and have children on top of it. This kind of life often causes stress; stress causes excess inflammation in the body; and inflammation causes disease, as mentioned above.
Thankfully we do have options. And although your doctor may warn you against the overconsumption of sugar, or the dangers of high stress, he or she is regrettably unlikely to tell you the truth about birth control pills, estrogen dominance, GMO’s, molds—nor will they share about epigenetics, or promising solutions such as real nutrition.
What to Eat and How to Combat Inflammation
The following is my list of ‘good foods’ and then my list of ‘bad foods.’ Anyone who’s been suffering with PCOS will certainly see improvement if they follow this regimen:
My GOOD FOODS List
from BEST to ALLOWABLE:
Cod liver (canned/smoked)
Eggs (pastured)
Beef or bison (100% grass-fed if possible)
Offal (organ meat like heart, liver, kidneys of beef, lamb, bison, deer, etc)
Salmon (wild-caught if possible)
Tuna (fresh or canned in water)
Sardines
Wild meats like deer or moose
Lamb
Redmond’s Real Salt
Butter (grass-fed, like Kerrygold, if possible)
Ghee
Pink Himalayan salt (from reliable source)
Water (filtered)
Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi)
Coconut oil
Lard
Bone broth (100% grass-fed whenever possible)
Olive oil
Apple cider vinegar (with ‘the mother’)
Bacon, ham, sausage and other pork foods
Pickles (no sugar)
Avocado mayo
Mustard
Monk fruit sweetener
Stevia Sweetener
Erythritol
Vegetables (Organic, low G.I. )
Almond or Macadamia Milk (unsweetened vanilla)
Heavy Whipping Cream
Full-fat yogurt
Poultry (just add more fat, like butter)
Lunchmeats (no sugar)
Almond & coconut flours
Cheese, sour cream, cream cheese
Chocolate (stick to Lily’s or the darkest European chocolate)
Seasonings
Pork rinds
Nuts and seeds (eat in moderation; soaked to remove molds; avoid cashews & peanuts)
Tea
Coffee
Tomato sauces
Occasional keto treats (not sweetened w/sucralose or other artificial sweeteners, and AFTER weight goal is reached, and in moderation)
Keto bread, tortillas, noodles, cereal (not sweetened w/sucralose or other artificial sweeteners, and AFTER weight goal is reached, and in moderation)
Blackstrap Molasses (AFTER weight goal is reached, and if consumed rarely)
My BAD FOODS List
The whole list is BAD:
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS is the devil!)
Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, & acesulfame potassium)
Sugar- any kind
Agave (yes, it is just as bad as the rest)
Honey (sorry, it’s natural, but the body will still recognize it as sugar)
Molasses (unless blackstrap)
Most fruit (unless lemons, limes, or berries in moderation)
Artificial colors (blue 1, red 40, yellow 5&6, etc)
Other artificial ingredients (MSG, carrageenan, sodium benzoate and other preservatives, artificial flavoring, sulphites, fillers, etc)
Unhealthy oils (hydrogenated, soybean, corn, cottonseed, canola, et al)
Margarine (eat real butter!)
Mayonnaise (unless it is 100% avocado or olive oil)
Deep fried foods (fried in bad oils)
Bread, bagels (unless keto-approved, and AFTER weight goal is reached, and in moderation)
Pastries, cookies, cakes, pies, candy (unless keto-approved, and AFTER weight goal is reached, and in moderation)
French fries, potato chips, pretzels, tortilla chips
Anything with a name that’s hard to pronounce
Processed foods (any mainstream food item in a box, can, bag, or package)
Fast food (there are some ways to eat fast food strategically)
Soda (unless sweetened w/keto-approved sweetener)
Table salt
Milk (especially skim)
Yogurt (unless it’s plain, full-fat)
Juice (just as bad as soda! It may be natural, but the body still recognizes it as sugar!)
ALL GRAINS (wheat, oats, white rice, brown rice, corn, AND ALL OTHER GRAINS)
Granola (but there are keto granolas on the market)
Soy protein / Soy protein isolate / Soy anything! (Read my blog on Soy and Xenoestrogens)
***One extra tip: I take high amounts of Vitamin D3 daily, (10,000 to 15,000 IU) and I believe everyone should.
I am always growing and learning, and so this list could evolve even more in the future. There is so much valuable information about health out there that won’t necessarily come from someone dressed in a lab coat. I would encourage everyone to educate themselves and not simply believe everything about health and nutrition that they’ve been told.
After reading all of this you may be feeling beyond overwhelmed. Here is a tip: it is impossible to eat and live perfectly (believe me, I have tried) unless you move to some remote and uncharted island where there are only fish and coconuts to eat. So give yourself some leeway—SOME.
Options Besides Drugs or Surgery for PCOS
If you have PCOS you should take it very seriously, as this condition can often lead to other even more serious health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, (Polycystic, 2019) stroke, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, severe liver inflammation, (Polycystic, 2017) and cancer.
Most sources out there will tell you that there is no cure for PCOS, but that is simply untrue. There are plenty of women sharing their testimonies of how they healed themselves of PCOS through making changes in their lifestyles, including dietary changes, and changes in household products. I am a living testimony!
I would love for all women who suffer with PCOS to take charge of their own bodies, but every woman must decide for herself which route to take when it comes to her own health. Just know that there are other options besides drugs and surgery. God put all kinds of things on this earth with which to heal ourselves; what a shame it would be not to at least do our own bit of research before making the wrong decision.
To hear my whole story, please read ‘My Keto-Carnivore Journey to Health.’ God bless you on your journey to health and wholeness. Don’t just live, but thrive.
~Spring Dalton
Sources:
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) Symptoms & Warning Signs. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2019, from https://www.webmd.com/women/symptoms-of-pcos
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (2017, August 29). Retrieved April 23, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353443
Polycystic ovary syndrome. (2019, April 01). Retrieved April 23, 2019, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
Jayaraman, M. (2018, May 11). 30 PCOS Symptoms You Don't Want To Ignore. Retrieved April 23, 2019, from https://www.sepalika.com/pcos/pcos-symptoms/
Is PCOS Genetic? How to Overcome PCOS Genes Like A Boss. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2019, from https://thepcosnutritionist.com/resources/is-pcos-genetic/
The Cause of PCOS: What Is Causing Yours And Why You Need To Know. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2019, from https://thepcosnutritionist.com/resources/cause-of-pcos/
Smith, Jeffrey. (2011, August 25). 10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs. Retrieved May 29, 2019, from https://responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOS/
Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter does not substitute or replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always consult with a physician or health-care professional if you ever have concerns or questions about your health. The use of any information found in this newsletter or any of the content within Ketovore with Spring is solely at your own risk.
Important Links: