PCOS Diva Podcast

Every woman has been touched by breast cancer. It may be you or someone you know or love, but all of us understand, on some level, the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of the disease. Women with PCOS do not have a higher risk of breast cancer than our peers, though we do have a slightly higher risk of endometrial cancer. Carol Lourie has dedicated her professional life to supporting women and their health. Now, she has focused her efforts on managing cancer in a functional way. Listen (or read the transcript) as we discuss:

preparing yourself, your family, and your community for treatment

nutrition for prevention, preparation, treatment, and recovery

managing side effects

setting the right mindset

Dr. Fiona McCullouch is one of my go-to naturopathic doctors when it comes to PCOS. Not only is her fantastic book, 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS, a “mini-encyclopedia” of PCOS, she is up-to-date on PCOS-related research. In this podcast episode, we discuss the latest PCOS news and topics including:

The anti-müllerian hormone study- is there a PCOS cure?

New research on the connections between mood, depression, and inflammation

Hyperthermia and the science behind why exercise improves our mood

Why women with insulin resistance need more selenium

Pros and cons of bariatric surgery and hysterectomy for PCOS

Most women with PCOS are overweight, but it is not necessary to be overweight to have a PCOS diagnosis. Many of us have a version of the syndrome called Lean PCOS. We share all the other symptoms but are often overlooked when doctors are searching for the root of our symptoms. Listen in as lean cyster Dr. Laura Dimler Radziwon and I discuss our experiences with Lean PCOS and:

Androgen excess, insulin balance, and acne

The journey to find a diagnosis

The importance of exercise beyond weight loss

Managing perfectionism in diet, exercise, and everything else

How to balance stress, anxiety, mood disorders, and hormones

Women who are seeking a diagnosis for PCOS will, on average, see two to three doctors before they get a diagnosis. Even after diagnosis, women with PCOS are simply told to lose weight, take a pill, and go on their way. That’s not ok. We deserve better care. Our daughters, sisters, and friends deserve better treatment. Ashley Levinson is a well-known PCOS advocate and joins the podcast to talk about the challenges facing women with PCOS and how we all can advocate for better research and education. Listen as we discuss:

- Issues such as the importance of early diagnosis and post-pill syndrome

- Self-advocacy at the doctor

- How to begin advocating & get involved

- PCOS Awareness Month & World PCOS Day

Many women with PCOS have a combative relationship with their body and PCOS. We buy into the calories-in/calories-out myth and attempt to punish our bodies with exercise. PCOS trainer, Erika Volk visits the podcast to bust myths around PCOS and exercise as well as explain the far-reaching (and unexpected) benefits. Listen in as we discuss:

- Why exercise and strength training balance your blood sugar

- Exercising to regulate appetite, mood, and menstrual cycles, balance hormones, and more

- Why all calories are not created equal

- How you should feel after a workout

- Advice for athletes who are training

- Pregnancy and postpartum fitness

Dental health is clearly linked to PCOS and general health. In fact, the mouth is the first point that many issues start to present themselves. Bleeding gums, for instance, is one of the first signs of potential hormone and microbiome changes. Your mouth even communicates what type of vitamin deficiencies you may have. Dr. Steven Lin is on a mission to educate people about the connection between dental health and their overall wellbeing. Listen in as we discuss:

The connection between tooth decay & gum disease and digestive, immunity, and hormone problems, as well as Alzheimer's disease and dementia

The hierarchy of nutrients that your body uses and what you may be lacking

Vitamin D deficiency and its cascading effects

The role of the microbiome in your dental health and vice versa

The problem with mouthwash

How sleep fits into your dental and overall health picture

“I just felt like something was wrong with me. I didn't realize there's something wrong with the rules and the process that I was following. It just felt like I was flawed and here I was trying to lose weight and the only thing I was losing was self-worth and self-confidence.” -Cassie Bjork

Many dietitians are telling you what Coke (and other big food corporations) want you to hear. It’s not necessarily their fault. Outdated interpretations of unscientific data set many of the diet standards we are taught from childhood. Cassie Bjork is not your average dietitian. She is a globally recognized industry leader and one of my go-to experts for weight loss. In this podcast she explains why low fat, low carb, calorie counting diets and exhausting work-outs are not helping you lose weight. It’s time to consider the big picture including what you eat, thyroid, stress, and sleep too. Listen (or read the transcript) as we discuss:

Questions to ask your dietitian

The physical and emotional power of surrender

Why counting calories doesn’t work

Why you must eat fat

the truth about cholesterol

Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) share overlapping symptoms and are sometimes confused. In this podcast, endometriosis expert, Melissa Turner clears up the confusion and explains the symptoms of endometriosis, how to get a diagnosis, and possible paths to healing. Listen in as we also discuss:

- Three areas to focus on when treating endometriosis naturally

- Effectiveness of surgery

- Her REACH technique of managing endometriosis

- Nutrients you may be missing

The birth control pill is the standard prescription when a woman is diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, typically without outlining the risks posed specifically for us. For many, it manages to mask PCOS symptoms. For others, the side effects are immediately intolerable. For all, symptoms resume when we must stop taking it. Worse, many struggle with Post Birth Control Pill Syndrome. So, what can we do? Dr. Jolene Brighten and I discuss this and much more in this podcast. Listen in or read the transcript.

- What is Post Pill Syndrome and what we can do about it?

- Testing to have done while on the pill

- Often undisclosed risks of the pill including: thyroid issues, adrenals, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, leaky gut, food sensitivities, anxiety, blood clots, yeast infections, and heightened risk of suicide

- Contraceptive alternatives for women with PCOS

- Why an orgasm a week is good for your health

“We are not what we eat. We are what our bodies can do with what we eat.” - Andrea Nakayama

Every person has unique biology and must be treated as such. Andrea Nakayama is a rock star in the field of functional nutrition. She teaches thousands of practitioners and patients a year how to use the principles of functional nutrition to personalize diet and healthcare and heal with sustainable results. In this podcast, Andrea explains functional nutrition, its benefits, and how you can get started.

Andrea Nakayama is a functional nutritionist and educator leading thousands of clients, students, and practitioners around the world in a revolution reclaiming ownership over one's own health. In the curriculum of Functional Nutrition Lab, her online school for practitioners, Andrea teaches the science and art of the functional nutrition practice through the lens of where food meets physiology.

Within her own clinic, Andrea and her team of nutritionists work with the chronic ailments most providers pass over, and she is regularly consulted as the nutrition expert for the toughest clinical cases in the practices of world-renowned doctors.