Nutritional Therapy Products PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects roughly one in ten women of childbearing age in the United States. The symptoms of this condition include a lack of regular menstrual cycles and ovulation, excessive facial and body hair, weight gain, insulin resistance and ovarian cysts. PCOS has no known cure, and treatment for the condition rests on addressing the symptoms. For women who are choosing to face polycystic ovary syndrome without prescription medication, treatment may include herbal supplements such as soy isoflavones and cinnamon extract. These nutritional therapy products for PCOS mimic the results of prescription medication and address the symptoms.
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Cinnamon
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Cinnamon is a nutritional supplement that has been shown to sensitize diabetic patients to insulin. As insulin resistance is one of the symptoms of PCOS, cinnamon supplements may be used as part of a nutritional therapy regimen in place of prescription medications such as Glucophage and Metformin. Dosages range from 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, or up to 2,000 milligrams of cinnamon supplement in capsule form. Cinnamon may interact with a patient's current blood sugar medication, and should be discussed with a doctor before use.
Soy
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Soy isoflavones are isolated from soybeans. This nutritional supplement is available in health food stores in capsule form. Studies show that soy isoflavones work to regulate estrogen. When taken early in the menstrual cycle, soy isoflavones mimic the effects of the prescription drug clomiphene citrate (Clomid) to produce ovulation in anovulatory women. It has also been shown to produce a shorter follicular phase, bringing ovulation sooner for women with lengthy cycles. Dosages of soy isoflavones range from 40 to 100 milligrams.
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Progesterone
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Progesterone is the chemical that dominates the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which is the half of the cycle that occurs after ovulation. Women who have PCOS may have low progesterone, resulting in a shortened luteal phase. This can affect the length of the menstrual cycle and prevent implantation of a fertilized egg, resulting in infertility. Bioidentical progesterone can be synthesized from plant extracts from yams and soybeans, and is available over the counter in a cream that is applied to the body.
Diet
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Managing weight and insulin levels is critical in the treatment of PCOS symptoms. Diet products that are low in carbohydrates, such as Atkins and South Beach nutritional products and supplements, can be used to keep insulin levels low, which results in weight loss and can assist in the regulation of hormone levels. A wide range of products for nutritional therapy exists. Many contain high fiber and sugar alcohol as a sweetener, as these impact the insulin level the least.
Warning
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While holistic therapy for polycystic ovary syndrome has advantages, such as availability and cost, any type of therapy should be discussed with a medical professional. The impact on hormone levels and blood sugar should be monitored to avoid complications such as cysts. This can be done easily by a doctor through regular bloodwork and checkups. Charting menstrual cycles can also be useful in measuring nutritional therapy's impact on PCOS.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic
