PCOS Diva Podcast

By Amy Medling & Vinu JyothiHealth & Fitness

PCOS Diva Podcast episodes

May 10, 2018 85 - Improving Quality of Life with PCOS
We all know that PCOS impacts the lives of the women who have it. Countless studies (and our own experience) have proven that. In this podcast, Dr. Rashmi Kudesia explains the impact of PCOS on our quality of life in five main interrelated areas: infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding or irregular periods, extra body or facial hair, weight issues, and emotional health and offers steps we can take to get on track both mentally and physically. Listen as we also discuss:
- Critical importance of sleep quality
- Tips on how to effectively advocate for yourself or your daughter
- Pros and cons of diagnosing adolescents
- What she says to adolescents who may have PCOS
- Why related diagnoses (thyroid, sleep apnea, etc.) are often missed in women with PCOS
- The counsel she offers her own patients to improve their quality of life
38 min
May 03, 2018 84 - Ketogenic Diets and PCOS: Hope or Hype?
What exactly is a ketogenic (keto) diet and why do people feel so strongly one way or the other about it? In this podcast, we discuss the pros and cons of keto diets, specifically for women with PCOS. Martha McKittrick reviews the current research, offers sage advice, and answers questions women commonly ask me about keto such as:
How is keto different from a low-carb diet?
Who should avoid keto and who should try it?
Is it sustainable?
Does keto dieting work for fertility?
What is the keto flu?
What should I know/do before I try it?
45 min
April 12, 2018 83- The Unexpected Ways Diet Impacts Your Health
“The why is equally important because once you understand what goes on in the body and how food can impact the various parts of our body, that impact then the hormones, you are much more motivated to start making changes.” - Magdalena Wszelaki
Magdalena Wszelaki is one of my favorite podcast guests and the author of the brand-new book, Cooking for Hormone Balance. She rejoins the podcast to discuss her “three-legged stool approach" to hormonal balance and offer practical advice on how to use foods (including herbs) to manage your overall health as well as specific symptoms. Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss:
- foods to choose for gut health and hormone balance
- estrogen dominance symptoms and healing
- PMS & why it’s not normal
- risks of removing your gallbladder
- coffee consumption and alternatives
52 min
April 05, 2018 82 - Healing with PCOS and Disordered Eating
“75 percent of women report disordered eating behaviors or symptoms consistent with eating disorders; so, three out of four have an unhealthy relationship with food or their bodies” -University of North Carolina Medical School
Food is often at the center of discussions involving PCOS. It should come as no surprise that eating disorders are prevalent among those of us living with the syndrome. Carrie Forrest understands the struggle. Listen (or read the transcript) as she shares her story of recovery as well as some of the coping and healing mechanisms she has employed. Among other things, we discuss:
Possible triggers of eating disorders
Why extreme diets (Keto, etc.) are possible red flags
Healing your relationship with yourself
Perfectionism and control
Finding a sustainable way of eating (and indulging) and exercising to improve your quality of life
45 min
March 21, 2018 81 - Managing PCOS, Dating, & Relationships
PCOS directly or indirectly impacts all of your relationships. When you’re talking about romantic relationships, whether dating or committed, issues frequently come up around libido, infertility, self-image, depression, lifestyle, and self-care. From initial conversations to advocating for yourself when making diet and lifestyle changes, Dr. Gretchen Kubacky, the “PCOS Psychologist,” has useful advice. Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss:
Tips for getting your partner on board with your upgraded diet and lifestyle plan
Learning to be proactive in your self-care
How dating can help set expectations that support your health
Impact of emotional trauma and stress on physical well-being
36 min
March 15, 2018 80 - Body Belief- 3 Steps to Heal and Thrive
Lara Briden’s book, the Period Repair Manual, is a manifesto of natural treatment for better hormones and better periods. I recommend it all the time, so I am thrilled to have her on the podcast. Dr. Briden provides practical solutions using nutrition, supplements, and natural hormones. We both agree that ovulation matters for all women; it's not just about making babies. So, listen as we discuss:
Why a period on the birth control pill is not a true period
Diagnosis and misdiagnosis of PCOS
Why cutting carbs might not help
Why doctors in Australia may not (and should not) diagnose a teenager with PCOS
Pain is not a symptom of PCOS
Her protocol for each type of PCOS
41 min
March 08, 2018 79 - Body Belief- 3 Steps to Heal and Thrive with Amy Raupp
Aimee Raupp and I agree- fertility isn't an on/off switch. It’s a spectrum. You might have lower fertility at certain times in your life, but it's improvable. It's changeable. It's not broken. You can heal. While there are many factors at play, we know that your thoughts not only impact your behavior, neuroscience demonstrates that our thoughts actually affect our neurochemistry. So, what we think can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. In her latest book, Body Belief, Aimee outlines 3 things you must do to heal and much, much more. Listen to today’s podcast (or read the transcript) as we discuss:
Becoming wellness-focused vs. illness-focused
Mindsets that keep us from thriving and healing our bodies
Genetics vs. epigenetics
Her trick to being in the moment and grounded
42 min
March 08, 201879 – Body Belief- 3 Steps to Heal and Thrive
“It all starts with living in your body again, with you shifting from a place of hostility to one of compassion.
Your body and all the cells in it hears everything your brain is saying.” -Aimee Raupp

Aimee Raupp and I agree- fertility isn’t an on/off switch. It’s a spectrum. You might have lower fertility at certain times in your life, but it’s improvable. It’s changeable. It’s not broken. You can heal. While there are many factors at play, we know that your thoughts not only impact your behavior, neuroscience demonstrates that our thoughts actually affect our neurochemistry. So, what we think can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. In her latest book, Body Belief, Aimee outlines 3 things you must do to heal and much, much more. Listen to today’s podcast (or read the transcript) as we discuss:
Becoming wellness-focused vs. illness-focused
Mindsets that keep us from thriving and healing our bodies
Genetics vs. epigenetics
Her trick to being in the moment and grounded
42 min
March 02, 2018 78 - Tips for Taking an Integrative Approach to Healing PCOS
“It's very difficult to recover from PCOS with our standard societal approach, and it's very easy to feel isolated and alone, and then all these negative self-talk voices come in and you have a lot of shame and, "Why don't I look like this?", "Why can't I do that?" PCOS does not have to be a horrible sentence. It's a complex illness, but you absolutely can find the right tools and recover your health.” – Carol Lourie
Carol Lourie takes a holistic approach when treating her patients with PCOS. I love her visualization of the syndrome, comparing it to spokes on a wheel. There is the insulin resistance spoke, the hormone imbalance spoke, the emotional spoke, and so many more. Effective treatment of PCOS cannot be accomplished with just a pill. In order to truly heal PCOS, we must approach it from a natural and holistic perspective. Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss:
Her integrative method to managing blood sugar
Laser v. electrolysis
When you should fire your doctor
Best breakfast and the trouble with coffee
Intermittent fasting
Benefits of acupuncture & homeopathy
35 min
February 21, 2018 77 - Overcoming Anxiety with Megan Buer
Anxiety is something with which many women with PCOS struggle. Lifestyle and food choices can help alleviate it. But if your diet is good, you exercise, and you’re doing everything “right” and still struggling with anxiety, you may need to look deeper. Megan Buer, is an author and founder of Harmony Restored, a company focused on helping individuals heal from the stress that is at the root of their physical and emotional pain. She teaches people to harness the power of mindset and working through emotions while listening to their body’s signals. Listen in and see if this is the key to resolving your anxiety.
42 min