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Insulin Resistance and PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) sounds as if it’s an exclusive ovaries-related disease, but in reality, it’s not. PCOS is a full-body endocrine and metabolic disorder that usually affects women in their childbearing age. Insulin resistance and PCOS are closely tied because most women with PCOS have an increased level of insulin in their body or have high insulin resistance. According to some recent studies, almost 70% of the PCOS patients have insulin resistance, impairing ovulation, and cause the ovaries to make excessive testosterone. Additionally, polycystic ovarian syndrome insulin resistance causes ovulatory dysfunction, where it can manifest itself in the form of menstrual irregularities or no menses at all. An excessive amount of insulin or enhanced insulin resistance is a symptom and a major driver of the PCOS. This disorder implies severe short and long term consequences for female health, such as alarming infertility rates, obesity, unwanted hair growth, and abnormal weight gain.
According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Disease Prevention, insulin resistance and PCOS affect almost 7 percent of adult women between 18 and 44. Women often ask about PCOS and insulin resistance diets and techniques on how to lose weight with PCOS fast and how to fight insulin resistance. Natural supplements for insulin resistance are prevalent, but their efficacy remains in question. This article delves into both PCOS insulin resistance and possible PCOS and insulin resistance diets and remedies.
PCOS Symptoms
The symptoms of PCOS normally appear in late teens or early 20s. An unhealthful diet plays an important role in developing the symptoms of PCOS health conditions. In some cases, symptoms do not become apparent in patients. Normally, PCOS symptoms vary from patient to patient and according to the severity of the disorder. The three most common factors linked with PCOS disorder are menses irregularities, increased androgen levels, and cystic ovaries. Moreover, common symptoms of the PCOS disease include weight gain, hirsutism (excessive hair growth on face, chest, and back), hair loss from the head, acne issues, pregnancy complications, and menstrual problems. All of these symptoms are alarming for PCOS patients. Of these symptoms, hirsutism and acne are directly related to increased androgen levels. Insulin resistance and high blood sugar result in abnormal weight gain or inability to reduce weight.
Natural Supplement for Insulin Resistance
Insulin is an essential hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. It is produced in the pancreas and assists in moving sugar from the bloodstream to your cells. If the cells in your body are insulin resistant, they will be unable to utilize insulin properly, leaving your blood sugar level elevated. It becomes severe when the pancreas detects an increased amount of sugar in the blood and begins producing more insulin to compensate. Consequently, more insulin is produced in the body, and an increase in insulin levels also increases the risk of developing PCOS symptoms as well as type-2 diabetes.
Some natural ways which may help in reducing insulin resistance and PCOS include a healthful PCOS diet with plenty of exercises, healthy weight loss techniques, fibrous food, and drinking green tea. Some studies suggest apple cider vinegar as an extremely popular beverage in the natural health community to mend insulin resistance. Another small scale research suggested that apple cider vinegar may help in improving insulin sensitivity by decreasing the blood sugar levels and enhancing the effectiveness of insulin. Some studies suggest that an increased intake of fructose and other simple sugars can increase the risks of insulin resistance and PCOS in women of all ages.
The findings showed that consuming an excess of sugars and fructose over a period of 60 days may increase the insulin resistance independent of the total caloric intake. Further, natural supplements such as chromium, magnesium, resveratrol (a polyphenol), cinnamon, ginseng, and biotin may be used to improve the insulin sensitivity. Chromium enhances carb and fat metabolism, where magnesium and resveratrol improve insulin receptors and insulin sensitivity. The use of natural supplements for insulin resistance is one of the most effective ways to tackle PCOS and related symptoms.
How to Lose Weight with PCOS and Insulin Resistance?
One of the most troubling outcomes of PCOS and insulin resistance is weight gain or difficulty to lose weight. Some studies have analyzed the impact of weight loss on improving symptoms of PCOS and insulin resistance. Hence, most of the patients suffering from this disease are eager to learn how to lose weight with PCOS fast and fight insulin resistance. A healthy PCOS and insulin resistance diet plan combined with increased daily water intake is recommended for faster weight loss and is thought to be helpful in keeping the PCOS symptoms from worsening. Low carb and high fiber foods trigger the weight loss process. Some studies suggesting that moderate-intensity exercise may promote weight loss and thus improve insulin resistance also demonstrated that the impact of vigorous exercise training may be more effective in mitigating insulin resistance. Moreover, restricting certain food intake may benefit from relieving polycystic ovarian syndrome insulin resistance, which may further assist in more rapid weight loss.
PCOS and Insulin Resistance Diet
The polycystic ovarian syndrome is a unique health condition and traditional diet plans are sometimes less effective when PCOS and insulin-resistant patients attempt to lose weight. Women experiencing PCOS and insulin resistance need a dedicated PCOS diet plan which assists them in shedding weight quickly by specifically targeting the disease symptoms. Research shows interesting results of dietary changes on weight loss. According to modern studies, PCOS and insulin-resistant patients require a diet that is anti-inflammatory, low carb, high fiber, and low glycemic index. All of these properties have their role in managing the disease symptoms and speeding the weight loss in PCOS. Fasting may also help in PCOS. Insulin levels are very encouraging in patients using fasting to cope with this health condition. Other research suggests that a 25-gram daily intake of fiber may help in more quickly reducing weight. A PCOS-insulin resistance diet may include cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries, and blueberries for effective weight loss.
Progesterone Cream for PCOS
Maintaining a balance in progesterone levels in the body plays a crucial role in handling the PCOS symptoms. Progesterone levels rise and fall throughout the ovulation period. Normally its levels reach a peak after ovulation. Insulin levels are also affected by the hormone imbalance and if the estrogen level dominates over the progesterone level in the body, an excess amount of insulin is released, which causes the PCOS.
Some studies have shown that progesterone levels increase 200 to 300 times once ovulation stops and an egg is produced. So, if ovulation occurs in PCOS and an egg is not produced, progesterone levels go down and the body experiences a deficiency of progesterone. In consequence, the body becomes estrogen-dominant and symptoms such as abnormal hair growth and menstrual problems begin to appear. Studies suggest interesting results for the use of bio-identical progesterone cream for PCOS to counterbalance estrogen dominance and manage PCOS symptoms. Bioidentical hormone creams may help in creating a hormonal balance in women of all ages.