By Claire McDonnell Liu, Nutritionist at Leafie.org
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an increasingly common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Women with this condition often grow a number of cysts on their ovaries and the syndrome is a leading cause of infertility. Additional symptoms include menstrual irregularities, obesity, pain, acne, excessive hair growth and hormonal dysregulation.
The syndrome occurs when levels of hormones are atypical. Women with PCOS may produce excess insulin, or the insulin they produce does not work efficiently.
The link between PCOS and obesity is complex. The inability of insulin (known as the main fat storage hormone) to function normally is one reason why women with PCOS tend to gain weight or have a hard time losing weight.For other women PCOS develops later on, following substantial weight gain.
Low carb and Ketogenic diets may offer potential for improving or in some cases even reversing PCOS. Evidence shows that a Ketogenic diet can lead to weight loss and improvements in insulin resistance, which may benefit PCOS sufferers due to the connection to elevated insulin levels, excess weight and other metabolic disfunction.
Low Carb Down Under PCOS Presentations
See our LCDU conference presentations by international medical experts relating to PCOS:
Dr. Nadia Pateguana & Dr. Jason Fung present on ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’
Dr. Nadia Pateguana graduated from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2004 and has a Degree in Honours Biology from McMaster University. Here Dr Pateguana shares her personal and clinical experience of using low carb nutritional therapy to manage hormone disfunction in treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Dr Jason Fung, presents on the link between insulin and PCOS and the significant role carbohydrate restrictive nutrition plays in managing PCOS.
Dr Tim O’Dowd presents ‘PCOS and Insulin Resistance: A lifetime of opportunities’
Dr. Tim O’Dowd is an obstetric and gynaecology specialist with a deep interest in the importance of nutrition for fertility and pregnancy. Here Dr O’Down shares his experience of low carb therapy in the management of PCOS.
Low Carb Professionals Directory
Low Carb Down Under have provided a directory of medical and allied health professionals based in New Zealand and Australia with experience of applying low carb nutritional therapy.
Leonie Johnston
All these talkers were fantastic!
If a type1 diabetic (conscious of eating LC) is diagnosed with PCOS does this indicate that she’s not being strict enough with accurate insulin doses? All too often I’m aware of her treating a hypo because she’s overdosed on insulin.