PCOS Diva Podcast

She’s back!  Nicole Jardim, certified women’s health coach and co-host of the podcast The Period Party has a brand-new book out in which she outlines her step-by-step natural protocol for hormone balance and to improve everything from PMS, period pain, and heavy periods to irregular cycles and missing periods. Listen in (or read the transcript) as Nicole returns to the PCOS Diva podcast to discuss this and much more including:

- Thyroid, lab tests to request, and the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism

- Why it is crucial for us to understand root causes of period problems

- Misdiagnosis of PCOS in teenage girls

- Body-wide result of altering hormones with birth control pills

Being a PCOS Diva is about creating a sustainable, healthy lifestyle that can help manage symptoms and heal your body long term. If somebody told me that I could never enjoy a glass of wine with a good meal or a special occasion, that just wouldn't be sustainable for me. There must be room in the PCOS Diva lifestyle for an occasional mindful indulgence. So, when PCOS Divas ask me if it is ok to have a glass of wine, my answer is YES, in moderation of course, but we also must be PCOS Divas about the wine we drink. Listen in (or read the transcript) as Todd White, founder of Dry Farms Wine explains how to choose the healthiest possible wine and shares some of the commercial wine industry’s “dirty little secrets.”

It is so important for all women to understand the benefits and risks (beyond nutrient deficiencies and blood clots) of the birth control pill. This tiny tablet that has the potential to empower us in many ways is often prescribed without an explanation of the effect on your brain. The research is clear- the pill changes women. Though women go on the pill for a handful of targeted reasons—such as pregnancy prevention and clearer skin—sex hormones don’t work that way. Sex hormones impact the activities of billions of cells in the body at once, many of which are in the brain. As a result, the pill affects sex, hunger, friendships, aggression, learning, and more. Dr. Sarah E. Hill, a leading researcher in evolutionary psychology, provides women with an even-handed, science-based understanding of how their bodies and brains work on and off the pill. She recognizes how instrumental the pill has been in helping women advance in the workplace and society. Dr. Hill credits the pill to her own ability to achieve a doctorate and career success. In turn, she’s not anti-birth control. She’s pro-woman. Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss how the pill impacts:

- Sexual desire

- Stress response

- Mental health

- Level of achievement

Kirsten Karchmer is dedicated to helping women improve their health, menstrual cycles, and fertility. Her focus is on integrative medicine, and she visits the PCOS Diva podcast to discuss the power of the menstrual cycle to help women with PCOS understand what is misaligned and how to bring the entire system into balance. Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss:

- How to integrate the best of Chinese medicine, Western medicine, mindfulness, mindset, diet, and exercise

- Impact of diet (vegan, keto, etc.) on menstruation

- The specific menstrual cycle presentation for pregnancy success

- Signals your period may be sending

- Moving beyond mindfulness

“You can eat perfectly, and if you don't get those circadian rhythms in line, that leptin, ghrelin, that hunger-full satiety center will disregulate. If it does and you develop leptin resistance where the central nervous system and leptin don't talk, no matter what you try to do, your system will be dysregulated, your weight will be a problem, your hormones will be a problem, your fertility will be an issue.” – Dr. Dian Ginsberg

There is a reason you have PCOS. Our ancestors developed it as a survival mechanism. Now those mechanisms are at odds with modern lifestyle conditions. Dr. Dian Ginsberg is a specialist interested in helping women with PCOS get to the root of our symptoms and naturally bringing our bodies into balance and health. As she says, PCOS doesn’t define you. “It's just something that's developed. And by unwrapping what's happened, by following some of these tips, you can reverse what you have.” Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss:

- Getting to the root of your PCOS

- Why the birth control pill, Metformin and spironolactone aren't really fixing PCOS

- What we can control to help our genes work better

- Light and circadian rhythm

- Insulin resistance vs. gut issues

There is, without a doubt, a genetic component of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). But did you know that the latest research says there is something we can do about it? The field of epigenetics is growing fast, and we are learning to control how genetics behave and even how things are transmitted from generation to generation. Listen in (or read the transcript) as Dr. Fiona McCulloch and I discuss:

- What is epigenetics?

- Tips for changing how your genes are expressed

- The profound impact of a father’s genetics & health on a child's health

- Why the 1 year before trying to conceive is a critical time

- Importance of sleep and circadian rhythm, especially for women with PCOS

How late shift work impacts PCOS

I can't stress enough that the more that you plan, the more that you get yourself prepared and organized, the more likely you are to succeed with your PCOS-friendly diet. You might initially feel uncomfortable because you're just not used to being in the kitchen and preparing your food from scratch. But it's going to make such a huge difference in the way that you feel and your PCOS symptoms, that you will begin to love it. And the best way to do that is to just get into the kitchen and start doing it!

In this podcast, I offer advice about meal planning including:

- How to avoid being overwhelmed by the process

- Where I get recipes and inspiration

- My own planning process & tricks

- Why I only plan dinners (& snacks)

- How weeknight traditions take a lot of the planning out of meal planning

- “Game changer” tips

Many women with PCOS put happiness on hold. “I will be happy when I lose the weight,” “when I have a baby,” “when I get a new job,” etc. The truth is, we cannot wait. Happiness has a metabolic effect. Our health literally depends upon choosing happiness now. Margie Bissinger is an expert in this area and explains how we can take steps every day to enhance our happiness.

Is CBD effective for PCOS? Many believe that CBD can help with symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain, anxiety, inflammation, and some autoimmune issues. I asked Dr. Mary Clifton, a respected expert in CBD, cannabis, and medical marijuana for her thoughts. If you’ve considered CBD, but are having a hard time finding reliable information, you are not alone.

Listen in as we discuss:

- How long to try it before deciding if it works for you

- Best modes of delivery

- How to find a good product

- Difference between CBD and Marijuana

- Will it show up on a drug test?

Let’s talk about emotional eating. You've tried everything to get your cravings under control. You manage your blood sugar. You take supplements like berberine and Ovasitol. You are eating a clean, PCOS-friendly diet, and you're still struggling with binge eating or compulsive overeating. If you're really struggling with sugar cravings and having a hard time getting your eating under control, listen as I talk with Tricia Nelson, author of the book Heal Your Hunger. She has fantastic insight about the causes of emotional eating and offers practical strategies for getting it under control.