PCOS Diva Podcast

Discussion with Dr. Jennifer Mayes about her fantastic healing success using the PCOS Diva Jumpstart program & Meal Plans. 

Jennifer is a Professor of English at a community college in Tennessee. She began her journey with PCOS at a very young age. 

Besides being an advocate for health and continuing to research and live with PCOS, she also has a YouTube channel, Magical Muses & Monthly Musings, dedicated to her love for makeup and skincare supportive of a PCOS-friendly lifestyle. 

She documents her journey with health on her Instagram, jenniferhealthwarrior, and she and her husband, Alex, love to travel and explore new cultures and foods that broaden her understanding of what living with PCOS really means for women everywhere.  

Tune in as we discuss:

- The negative effects of birth control and mainstream medications on her health

- Why Weight Watchers didn’t work for her - long term

- Why the PCOS Diva Jumpstart worked for her

- Her journey from 269 to 121 pounds

- Listening to subtle body cues

- Anxiety management

- Mindset factors for success

With Over 10 years of struggling to manage her PCOS and being dependent on pills and being disappointed with the phrase that “lifestyle change is the only solution that can help” - Nidhi Singh took control of her health. With PCOS and periods being a taboo subject in India, she felt a dire need to normalize the conversation about PCOS. She realized the lived experiences could truly help women and can be a powerful tool to find reliable resources and build a trusted community.

PCOS Club India is now India’s largest PCOS-focused community.

Join us as we chat about the following:

- The global perspective -  how different cultures play a role in PCOS inheritance & the genetic piece that is often overlooked

- The lack of reproductive health options for Indian women

- Ayurvedic solutions: eat for your dosha, gut healing, popular Indian herbs and spices

I am honored to interview Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, a board-certified neurologist, Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, and five-time New York Times bestselling author. He is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of nutritional influences in neurological disorders.

His most recent book- Drop Acid – explores the fascinating correlation between high levels of uric acid & an increase, or even a possible cause, in PCOS symptoms.

He explains that the elevation of uric acid is not just related to things like weight gain, increased blood sugar, and increased blood pressure, but is actually playing a causative role. This is a major breakthrough in the field of PCOS research.

Listen in as we discuss:

- What is uric acid & why does your body create it

- How high uric acid can cause PCOS symptoms

- How to test your uric acid levels and what is a healthy rate

- How to fix elevated uric acid level: important lifestyle and supplement additions

Women with PCOS often struggle with gut issues like gas, bloating, constipation, indigestion, and acid reflux. And most doctors are not trained to help you get to the root cause of these symptoms. 

That’s why I am excited to share today’s podcast with you - all about gut health & how it is directly connected to PCOS!

I spoke with Jillian Smith, a gut health dietitian with a special focus on functional medicine.

She teaches that your gut symptoms are valid and they are 100% not normal. Through the RIGHT testing, proper nutrition, personalized lifestyle, and supplement interventions, she helps women heal their gut and experience life symptom-free.

Listen as we explore:

- The 3 steps to gut healing

- The gut-brain connection and how to change your mindset around healing

- How to find a gut health practitioner

- The top gut health therapies

r. Felice Gersh is a double board-certified, ground-breaking thought leader in the field of PCOS. She returns to the PCOS Diva podcast to discuss taking control of your lifestyle before you enter Menopause. 

In general, women with PCOS need to be extra vigilant during the peri-menopause and menopause years because we have more insulin resistance, gut issues, and inflammation. If these issues are left unmanaged, during menopause they can contribute to heightened hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems, and weight gain.

There is hope! Dr. Gersh assures us that Menopause does not have to be all gloom and doom. She shows us how to take control of our health now so we can breeze through Menopause. 

Listen in and learn:

- 3 stages of menopause and what to expect if you have PCOS

- Why PCOS-delayed Menopause is a myth

- How to take control now - Tips and best practices to start implementing at all stages of life (and before you hit Menopause)

- Hot flash treatments

- Why a hysterectomy is not the solution

In today’s podcast, I talk with Dr. K and Ashley, founders of the Seed Oil Rebellion.

They are on a mission to help spread awareness of seed oils, their effects on our health, and how to live a seed oil-free life.

Seed oils, also known as vegetable oils or industrial seed oils, are highly processed oils extracted from seeds such as soybeans, corn, rapeseed, cottonseed, sunflower, and safflower seeds. 

After the seeds are harvested, they are then heated to extremely high temperatures that oxidize the fatty acids creating byproducts that are harmful to our health. Due to the high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids found in these oils, not only do they become inflammatory compounds in the pan but in your body as well. They play a significant role in chronic inflammatory diseases and a large variety of other skin, gut, and weight issues to name a few. 

While they may not be present in your home as cooking oils, the truth of the matter is they are in just about everything. Most packaged foods, from tortilla chips to coffee creamer, and just about every restaurant. 

The Evil Eight, as we call them, are canola, corn, cottonseed (or rapeseed), soybean, sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, and rice bran. These are the absolute worst oils and should always be avoided as best as possible.

The Simple Six, which we consider the healthiest oils are ghee (clarified butter), beef tallow, butter, coconut, avocado, and olive oil. Use these to cook with and look for store-bought options including these too!

Our conversation is one you don’t want to miss - get ready to have your mind blown!

I find that poor dental health often accompanies PCOS. Over the years, I have struggled with inflamed gums even though I was vigilant with my oral care. In my quest to find the proper treatment for my teeth, I came across a product that has helped me and I am delighted to share it with you on today’s podcast.

I speak with Trina Felber, the founder, and creator of Primal Life Organics, an all-natural dental care company that focuses on oral health as the gateway to internal health. Her mission is to help you gain a complete mouth makeover so not only will your oral health escalate, but so will your overall health.

Listen in as we discuss:

- The ground-breaking dental research of Dr. Weston A. Price regarding sugar and cavities (and much more!)

- How acidic foods affect the health of your mouth

- The necessary toothpaste minerals needed to optimize your oral health (few products have them)

- What ingredients to look out for in your dental products – more than fluoride

- Mouthwash, yes or no?

- What causes bad breath

- Light therapy for whitening your teeth naturally

Interview with Dee McCaffrey, an organic chemist turned clinical nutritionist and internationally acclaimed author. She walks us through her method and explains how she was able to lose 100 pounds and keep it off for three decades by eliminating processed foods.

Tune in to learn:

How chemicals in processed food lead to addictions

How to respect the natural design of your body

What it means to be overfed and undernourished

Deep exploration of natural cane sugar

Which sugars are best for PCOS

Why vegetables are the prime fuel for your body and weight loss

One of the main pillars of being a PCOS Diva is learning how to think like a Diva which means changing your mindset around the way that you view your PCOS diagnosis.

On today’s podcast, I talk with Ann Papayoti, author and mindset coach. She is dedicated to helping people rise above life’s painful and challenging moments so that they can live their best lives.

She shows us how easy change can be once we embrace the gift within the challenge and set our course for a lighter heart, an alternative emotion, and surrender within the moment.

Listen in (or read the transcript) as we discuss:

- How self-healing begins with self-compassion

- What are your sticky notes or self-limiting beliefs?

- How to know if you are stuck in unconscious avoidance

- The energy of emotions & the most powerful emotions for healing

- How to “float” in your pain, not push it away

In today’s podcast, I speak with April Tesson, the founder of The Period Yogi – an online yoga membership that helps women pair their yoga with the natural rhythms of their menstrual cycle.

April weaves together a holistic, therapeutic approach to menstruation and the uniqueness of the female body to create customized movement practices that nourish the four distinct phases of your cycle.

Instead of working against your body’s natural ebbs and flows, her classes support your changing needs throughout the month to optimize your flow.

She teaches you how to easily track your phases (and gives us a free tracker) so you can know your body on a deeper level and tap into its innate wisdom and power.

The Period Yogi helps women who:

- Need relief from period pain that’s dragging you down

- Want help regulating stress levels

- Are dealing with monthly pain from Endometriosis or PCOS and want to find holistic support

- Are transitioning off hormonal birth control and want to reconnect with your cycle

- Are on the perimenopause rollercoaster and want to ease symptoms naturally

- Are post-menopause or not cycling and feel untethered without a cyclical rhythm