PCOS Diva Podcast

By Amy Medling & Vinu JyothiHealth & Fitness

PCOS Diva Podcast episodes

November 21, 201528 – Break the PCOS-Stress Cycle
“(Management of) stress is just as important as diet and exercise in the management of PCOS. It’s a piece that has to be addressed because, unless you do, you can’t get the hormones in check.”
– Dr. Shawna Darou
Stress hormones inter-play with the hormones we most often hear associated with PCOS. Progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid hormones either bring your body balance or wreak havoc on your health. For women with PCOS, they often worsen symptoms like abdominal weight gain, acne, facial hair growth, or hair loss on the head. Dr. Shawna Darou recently sat down with me to explain the role of stress on hormones in women with PCOS and left us with some important take-aways on how to reduce stress and its effects. Listen in and learn about:
unexpected sources of chronic stress
tips for controlling stress
how stress effects the thyroid hormones and makes your blood work appear normal when it’s not
why stress causes weight around the central abdomen, particularly in women with PCOS
the danger of over-exercising
adrenal fatigue and how you can test for it
34 min
November 17, 201527 – Emotional Eating and How to Cope
Are you a stress eater?
A reward eater?
A comfort eater?
You’re not crazy. You’re not lazy. This is not about will power. There’s a reason why this destructive eating behavior is going on.
Women with PCOS are often told, “You need to lose weight and go on a low carb, ketogenic or paleo diet.” For a lot of us, the thoughts of going on a strict food plan leads to a sense of denial and a cycle of stress/emotional eating. Dr. Melissa McCreery is a well-known psychologist and author who can suggest some reasons for our eating habits and practical ways we can avoid pit falls. Listen to my interview with her and learn:
How to live, eat well, and have the health that you want without feeling deprived, miserable and overwhelmed
The power of adopting a transformation mindset
What’s your why?
Is your overeating biological, emotional, a coping mechanism, or all of these?
Practical holiday eating tips
38 min
October 28, 201526 – “The Most critical Factor” of PCOS
“The most critical factor in all of the issues facing women with PCOS is systematic inflammation and its origin which is probably in the gut,” explains Dr. Felice Gersh in our most recent interview. Dr. Gersh is a doctor of integrated medicine and a renowned expert on PCOS. Our conversation was wide ranging as she clearly explained the origin of many of our toughest symptoms. The gut-brain-hormone link can be a delicate balancing act, but once we get it worked out, Dr. Gersh assures, our physical and emotional health will radically improve. Listen in and learn:
Why the gut is called the 2nd brain
What steps to take in order to calm and treat GI inflammation
The impact of stress, emotions and anxiety on your gut and overall health
The link between nutrient deficiencies, leaky gut, insulin resistance, acne, hair loss, Hashimotos and other auto immune disorders
How mouthwash is ruining your arteries
Foods and supplements that can help repair your gut and reduce inflammation
The extreme dangers of pharmaceuticals like Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium
47 min
September 28, 201525 – What French Women Know (and You Should Too)
French women are well known for their easy elegance and style. What is their secret to making fabulous look simple? Jamie Cat Callan has made a life’s study out of answering just that question. I was inspired to interview her and learn more about the nuances behind French women’s “joie de vivre” after reading her latest book, “Bonjour Happiness.” The book is a serious, but light hearted guide to capturing the essence of living well. The philosophy fits very well with the PCOS Diva mantra, “A Diva is Powerfully Positive.”
Listen to our conversation as we discuss
how self-love is the cornerstone of happiness and a positive life
how French women eat what they want without guilt
the French life-affirming philosophy and methodology around food
how finding your “secret garden” will better your life and the lives of those around you
30 min
August 27, 2015 24 – Gluten-free – It Doesn’t Hurt To Try
Interview with Dr. Tom O’Bryan, who is an internationally recognized expert on Celiac Disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Inflammation due to gluten sensitivity is a central concern to women with PCOS, so I was thrilled to interview him for our latest podcast.
42 min
July 25, 201523 – Heat Up Your Metabolism
So, what’s your type? Dr. Philip Goglia, nutritionist to pro and semi-pro athletes, stars like Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Ryan Gosling and even a PCOS Diva, can tell you. He specializes in metabolic nutrition and divides the population in to 3 types of metabolisms. I was inspired to interview him after reading his book, “Turn up the Heat – Unlock the Fat Burning Power of Your Metabolism.” His message of eating to your metabolic type spoke to me, and I think you will benefit from what he has to say as well. Listen in and learn:
3 types of metabolism and how to get the most out of yours
are you eating enough food?
his guidelines of what starches and sugars to eat and avoid (hint: avoid “fluffy and mushy”)
how to build an eating pattern that will heat up your metabolism
what to eat at bedtime to help you sleep better
Please listen until the end. He has a important and special message just for PCOS Divas.
42 min
June 30, 201521 – Knowledge Is Power: Don’t Miss This Opportunity to Empower Women
Knowledge Is Power: Don’t Miss This Opportunity to Empower Women
June 30, 2015

PCOS Diva has a fundamental purpose of empowering and educating women about their health and fertility. That is why I am thrilled to get behind a Kickstarter campaign to turn Holly Grigg Spall’s book, Sweetening the Pill: or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control into a documentary. Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein plan to make this thought-provoking book into a documentary. The goal is to empower and educate women so they can make an informed choice about their fertility and birth control. Too often, women are given the birth control pill as a first line treatment for PCOS. They are never informed of the countless side effects they can expect while on the pill or the post-pill syndrome they can expect when they stop taking it. We are rarely educated by physicians about the rhythms of our body and how to regulate our cycles with lifestyle choices and supplements.
I had the opportunity to interview author Holly Grigg- Spall this week. Listen to my interview with Holly and learn about:
The benefits and side effects of hormonal birth control (the pill and its cousins)
Difference between a period on the pill and a period on your own
Regulating your period without pharmaceuticals
What is body literacy and why it is important
How you can help make this documentary project happen!
31 min
June 20, 201520 – What is your Period Trying to Say?
Menstrual cycle wheel. Average menstrual cycle. Bleeding period and ovulation.
Nicole Jardim is a leading expert in the area of menstruation and women’s hormones. During our interview, we explored her work addressing the root cause of period abnormalities. Rather than simply treating or masking the symptoms, she strives to find the root of the irregularities and repair the problem naturally. She gives practical advice about figuring out why your period may be irregular and suggests the type of proactive changes you can make to start ovulating regularly and get your cycle sorted out. Listen in as we talk about:
what is a normal period?
what can your period tell you about your health?
how and why to chart your cycle
the relationship between estrogen dominance and your cycle
the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in our environment on your period
is the pill a solution?
44 min
June 11, 201519 – Herbal Supplements for Treating PCOS
The natural treatment of PCOS is a passion of mine. I am happy to share this passion with Dr. Lara Briden, a well respected naturopathic physician. Dr. Briden is my “period guru.” Her new book, The Period Repair Manual, was on my list of vacation reading. For every woman who has ever thought, “I will never have a regular period,” this interview is for you. In our 40 minute interview, she addressed many of the questions I get about herbal supplements for treating PCOS symptoms including insulin resistance, hirstuism and ovulation issues.
In our time together, she explained:
Why doesn’t the same herb work for all women with PCOS?
What herbs are best for different symptoms?
Is it safe to take herbs while you are taking fertility drugs, pregnant or breastfeeding?
What are the benefits and constraints of herbs such as vitex, peony, licorice, spearmint, turmeric, saw palmetto, myo-inositol, berberine and more?
40 min
May 06, 201518 – Top Tips to Help You Beat Stress and Conceive
Got stress? Trying to conceive? Dr. Maizes, respected educator, doctor of integrated medicine and author of Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child recently sat down with me to discuss stress and its impact on women with PCOS, particularly those trying to conceive. During our 45 minute interview, she made clear the link between fertility and stress as well as provided some excellent, easy to use advice and coping strategies.
Listen in and hear about:
7 Tried and True Relaxation Techniques
The link between stress, your hormones and fertility
Managing stress and well-being with Chinese medicine and Ayurveda
Preconception care and the “Fetal Origins Hypothesis”
44 min