Category: podcast

Today, we welcome Dr. Beth Westie! Dr. Beth Westie has made it her mission to help women use nutrition to work with their natural cycle to achieve lasting weight loss results. She spent years struggling with ovarian cysts, thyroid issues, and weight until she really dove into a background in Eastern Medicine. She has made it her mission to help women regain control of their health and nutrition! To learn more, click that play button above!

Dr. Beth Westie is the author of the best selling book, The Female Fat Solution, the creator of the Eat for Your Cycle Method and the host of The Female Health Solution Podcast. And you can find more resources & tools from Dr. Beth Westie on her website (drbethwestie.com), Podcast,  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!

If you’re interested in more information about Dr. Beth Westie’s best selling book and / or her popular 12 Week Challenge, read on! 

From our podcast today with Dr. Beth Westie, we learned that the answer to this question is yes, but it depends.

Since women with PCOS are predisposed to hormonal imbalances that affect weight, Cyster’s oftentimes experience weight gain and/or trouble losing weight. So, getting your hormones in check and making lifestyle changes to keep them in a more balanced state can most certainly help Cyster’s overcome weight issues. Especially weight issues can stem from insulin resistance and high cortisol levels.

However, for women with PCOS, hormonal imbalances may not be the only cause of weight gain / trouble losing weight. These issues can also stem from poor diet and exercise, poor mental health (depression, mood swings, anxiety, etc.), and other underlying thyroid issues.

So, while balancing your hormones will more than likely assist with weight loss, it’s possible that the root reason of a Cyster’s inability to lose weight could be stemming from another underlying issue. For more on the answer to this question, click play!

What is Dr. Beth Westie’s 12 Week Challenge?

Dr. Beth Westie’s 12 Week Challenge is a weight loss program for women that promotes sustainable weight loss, without dieting. The program focuses on teaching women how to eat and exercise to maintain a healthy hormonal balance in the midst of constant cyclical hormone fluctuations.

Here are just a few key tenants of the program and how they may benefit women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DUTCH Hormone Test

As an initial part of the program, participants are given a DUTCH Hormone Test in order to gain a comprehensive analysis of their sex and adrenal hormones and their metabolites. This includes stress hormones from the adrenal glands, testosterone levels, estrogen levels, and more.

As a Cyster, it is particularly useful to know this information so that you can make the necessary life changes to get your hormones back on track.

Customized Nutrition & Supplement Recommendations

No two women are the same, as no Cyster’s are the same. Participants in Dr. Beth Westie’s program will receive a totally customized nutrition & supplement recommendation to help balance their hormones.

Women with PCOS oftentimes need supplements to support their immune system, thyroid, and more, but don’t know where to start. Dr. Beth Westie’s customized approach can be a good start point by helping you identify your deficiencies.

10 Fat Burning Tactics for Women

In addition to a customized nutrition plan, Dr. Westie’s 12 Week Challenge also includes a tutorial for 10 different fat burning tactics for women. These include carb cycling, intermittent fasting, protein pacing, and more.

Since women with PCOS often struggle to lose weight, these key exercises may come in handy and help promote a healthier lifestyle. These exercises are specially curated for women and their specific hormone cycles and can help burn belly fat at a quicker rate.

Other program inclusions:

Dr. Westie’s 12 Week Program is so comprehensive, we’ve just barely scratched the surface with our examples above.

Here are some other inclusions that may benefit women with PCOS:

• Lessons on seed cycling, detoxing, removing hormone disruptors, fasting, gut health, cortisol, and more
• Coaching audios and weekly email checkins
• Exclusive access to a Facebook Group for support
• Weekly group coaching calls 
• Mindset work for living a healthier lifestyle

For more information about the course, click here. And for the answers to all your FAQ’s about the program, click here.

The Female Fat Solution Book

Dr. Beth Westie’s best-selling book is a must-read for women with PCOS. Like we briefly touched on earlier, womens’ hormones not only change as they age, but they cycle every. single. month. So, it’s important for women to understand their bodily cycles and use that information to curate the ideal meal plan and workout schedule.

If you’re interested in learning more about these cycles, as well as hormones and weight loss, we recommend checking out The Female Fat Solution Book. Readers can learn about hormone levels and the nervous system, estrogen imbalance and the thyroid gland, fat cells and processed foods, fatty acids and chemical messengers, and so much more.

Most of all, though, readers can learn about hormone imbalances, why they happen, and how to make the necessary life changes to promote their hormonal balance. Thus, supporting their overall health.

If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts on our episode today, drop them below!

—

Join us in The Cysterhood, a community of women learning how to manage PCOS & lose weight, Gluten and Dairy Free!

What’s Your PCOS Type? – Take the quiz!

Ovasitol: 15% OFF prc code 292660

Lab kits to help you find the root causes of your PCOS!

Pre-natal for TTC: 15% OFF prc code 292660

LET’S CONNECT:

Website: https://PCOSweightloss.org/

Instagram: http://bit.ly/PCOSweightlossIG

Tik Tok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJC2EE26/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PCOSWeightLoss

Pinterest: https://pin.it/5ddl5Uu

While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (Privacy Policy).

Links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide, we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting our channel so we can continue to provide you with free content each week!

Are you wondering if you can have a “cheat” day while going gluten & dairy free for PCOS? In this episode, we show you how you can make the PCOS friendly lifestyle your own!

You’ll learn about some common roadblocks with going gluten & dairy free, how to plan and prepare ahead of time, AND how to get more familiar with gluten and dairy free foods!

To get the scoop + hear from other Cysters about their experience with these same exact questions, click that play button above! And for a quick breakdown of what you need to know about gluten, dairy, and PCOS, including a roundup of easy to find gluten & dairy free foods, read on Cysters!

The short answer is: yes, of course! Although we don’t like to call treating yourself a “cheat day”, because it puts a negative connotation on the term.

The truth is: there is no one-size-fits-all fast-track transition to a completely gluten- and dairy-free diet. So, take your time, start one meal at a time, and keep us updated along the way. For more tips on getting started, click play above!

The key to starting and maintaining a gluten and dairy free diet, however, is consistency. Whether you’re going 100% gluten and dairy free, or just 50%, the key is sticking to your goals and cutting as much gluten and dairy as you can. Once you see the positive effects your new PCOS diet has on your PCOS symptoms and your overall quality of life, you will gain the motivation you need to stick to it. Plus, your body will thank you later.

If you’re not ready to take on this challenge alone, considering joining the Cysterhood. There, you will gain access the largest community of PCOS women, learning to reverse their symptoms and lose weight, gluten and dairy free.

Gluten- And Dairy-Free Diet Plan

Going gluten- and dairy-free can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! There are so many alternatives to your favorite dairy and gluten products—it’s all about finding the ones that work for your personal taste and cooking methods. Here are some of the best alternatives to common gluten- and dairy-products.

Common Gluten Products & Alternatives

• Bread: Gluten-free bread (rice, almond, or oat flour-based)
• Pasta: Chickpea pasta, lentil pasta, rice pasta, quinoa pasta
• Flour (wheat): Almond flour, coconut flour, rice flour, certified gluten-free oat flour
• Cereal (wheat-based): Gluten-free cereal (corn-based, rice-based, or oat-based with GF label)
• Crackers: Seed-based or nut-based gluten-free crackers
• Baked goods (cakes, cookies, muffins): Use gluten-free flour blends or pre-made GF versions
• Soy sauce: Tamari or coconut aminos

Common Dairy Products & Alternatives

• Milk: Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or rice milk
• Butter: Vegan butter, coconut oil, olive oil
• Cheese: Vegan cheese (cashew-based, soy-based, or coconut oil-based)
• Yogurt: Coconut yogurt, almond yogurt, soy yogurt
• Ice cream: Non-dairy ice cream (almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc.)
• Sour cream: Vegan sour cream (typically cashew or coconut-based)
• Cream cheese: Dairy-free cream cheese (tofu or nut-based, like Kite Hill)
• Milk chocolate: Dark chocolate

If you’re still worried it’ll be hard not to eat gluten or dairy, I want to share an example day of meals via The Cysterhood app. These meals all use entirely dairy- and gluten-free foods and ingredients that instead prioritize healthy fats, protein, and other PCOS-healing nutrients. As a PCOS dietitian, I want to do everything I can to make it easy to start eating well and stick with it. (That said, one cheat day won’t hurt!) Here’s what your daily meals could look like with The Cysterhood app:

• Breakfast: Apple Pie Breakfast Quinoa Bowl
• Lunch: Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas with Rice and Guacamole
• Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Pizza
• Snack: Hot Chocolate Cookies and Frozen Coconut Raspberry Mocktail

Sounds pretty great, right? Eating a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet for PCOS doesn’t have to be restrictive—it needs to be strategic! If you want more PCOS-friendly meal ideas, check out my 7-Day PCOS Diet Plan.

Gluten And PCOS

Gluten is the general term used to describe a variety of proteins found in like wheat, rye, and barley. Although gluten is a common ingredient in many foods, it could be wreaking havoc when it comes to chronic inflammation.

Since many women with PCOS already deal with higher inflammatory markers that may cause existing PCOS symptoms, this additional inflammation may trigger even more negative side-effects. These include bloating, fatigue, upset stomach, hormonal imbalances, leaky gut syndrome, and more. It also puts a much larger strain on the already compromised immune system, making it harder for the body to ward of viruses, colds, and flu.

Cyster’s can benefits from a gluten-free diet for two main reasons:

1 – Consuming less gluten means less chronic inflammation.

2 – Foods that are naturally gluten-free tend to be lower on the glycemic index. This means improved insulin resistance and better blood sugar levels (also known as blood glucose levels).

It is important to note here, that gluten-sensitivity and Celiac Disease are not exactly the same thing. To read more about Celiac Disease, click here.

Dairy And PCOS

Consuming dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese is known to increase insulin levels in the body. For women with PCOS who already struggle with insulin resistance, this can trigger even more symptoms of PCOS.

Women with PCOS who are also lactose intolerant are at an even higher risk for developing additional negative side-effects when consuming dairy. These negative side-effects include inflammation, bloating, upset stomach, acne, trouble with weight loss, leaky gut syndrome, IBS, and more.

A dairy-free diet can be beneficial for Cyster’s by reducing chronic inflammation and reducing insulin levels in the body.

Gluten And Dairy Free Food List

It’s easy to slip back into old habits when you’re not familiar with gluten and dairy free foods. What do you purchase? What is safe to eat? Cysters, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of some PCOS-friendly gluten and dairy free foods, starting with the foods that are naturally gluten-free.

+ Fruit

+ Vegetables

+ Meat and poultry

+ Fish and seafood

+ Beans, legumes, and nuts 

+ Quinoa 

+ Rice 

+ Nut flours

Now, here are some gluten-free / dairy-free alternatives that can help replace those items you love, but had to cut out.

+ Nut milks (cashew, almond, coconut, etc.)

+ Non-dairy cheese

+ Plant based oils

+ Tofu

Worst Foods For PCOS

As a Cyster practicing a gluten and dairy free diet, it can be really stressful always wondering “what can I eat?”. If focusing on everything you can eat seems like too much, try focusing on what you can’t eat. Fortunately, the list of what you can’t eat is much shorter than the list of what you can eat!

Here’s a quick list of the worst foods for PCOS:

+ Processed meats like sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs

+ Refined (simple) carbs like white bread, pasta, and pastries

+ Processed food like cakes, candy, and ice creams

+ Sugary drinks like soda, processed juice, and energy drinks

+ Fried foods including fast foods and foods made at home

+ Alcohol

+ Caffeine

Don’t beat yourself up over a “cheat day”. Enjoy it! Then, get back on track!

More questions on gluten and dairy and how they might be affecting your quality of life with PCOS? Drop them below! We’re here for YOU!

Happy PCOS Awareness Month Cysters! As part of spreading awareness and giving more tools & resources to the community, we are partnering with Ovasitol for a special September offer. Anyone who orders Ovasitol with our PRC code (292660) will receive a 2 week free supply of Ovasitol + 2 weeks free in The Cysterhood! Offer only available in September!

Join us in The Cysterhood, a community of women learning how to manage PCOS & lose weight, Gluten and Dairy Free!

Instagram: (@PCOS.Weightloss) & (@A.Cyster.and.Her.Mister)

Lab kits to help you find the root causes of your PCOS!

While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (Privacy Policy).

Links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide, we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting our channel so we can continue to provide you with free content each week!

Are those with PCOS more prone to cavities? What about bad breath? In this episode, we uncover the connection between PCOS & Oral Health! 

You’ll learn why women with PCOS are more susceptible to periodontal disease and what you can do to prevent it!

Read on for a breakdown of the most important information you can gain from this episode. Then, click that play button above to fill in blanks & hear from Cysters’ just like you!

If you’re a woman with PCOS that is also struggling to maintain good oral health, listen up, because this one is for you. Up until this point, you might have categorized PCOS and dental health as separate, unrelated health issues. But as it turns out, there is a strong connection between PCOS and Oral Health. Let’s discuss!

Does PCOS cause dental problems?

The answer is: yes and no. While there is minimal research that points to PCOS as the root cause of dental problems (pun intended), it is clear to see that PCOS may contribute to and / or worsen dental hygiene. The most common dental issues that Cyster’s face include: bad breath, swollen / sore gums, cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, gingivitis, and poor mouth pH / good bacteria content.

What causes gum disease & gingivitis in women with PCOS?

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance begins in the mouth, specifically with your saliva. When blood sugar is poorly managed and the body is experiencing chronic high insulin resistance, your saliva will begin to secrete excess sugar. This can have the same affect on your teeth as consuming lots of candy on a regular basis. More bad breath, more cavities, and more gum inflammation, and eventually gum disease.

Inflammation

Like PCOS, gingivitis is an inflammatory condition. This brings to light two major points.

The first is that gingivitis causes increased chronic inflammation in the body. This is important for women with PCOS because inflammation in the body is triggering to the immune system. And symptoms of PCOS are more likely to flare-up when an immune response has been triggered. Thus triggering even more chronic low grade inflammation. A vicious cycle.

The second main point here is that women with PCOS are already dealing with a compromised immune system. In other words, your immune system is probably already working on something else PCOS-related. So, it is likely that your body isn’t being as productive and efficient as it could be at protecting your oral health and healing your oral inflammation.

Hormone Imbalance

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can have serious affects on your hormone levels. This is especially true when it comes to sex hormones, as many patients with PCOS suffer from high oestrogen, low progesterone levels (aka oestrogen dominance). This hormonal imbalance can affect the pH levels in your body, including inside your mouth.

Stay with me here. Now, when the pH inside your mouth if out of whack, certain bacterias grow more / less and certain bacterias die off. This imbalance of good and bad bacteria can then lead to inflammation, gum disease, and gingivitis.

Poor PCOS Management

Uncontrolled metabolic disorders like hypothyroid and type-2 diabetes are a leading risk factor for gingivitis. The same can be said for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Poor management of these diseases may cause symptoms like chronic high blood sugar, inflammation, insulin resistance, and even mental health issues that cause lack of good dental hygiene. All of which can contribute to dental issues.

Poor Dental Hygiene

Last, but definitely not least, we have poor dental hygiene. As women with PCOS, we are already more susceptible to oral health issues for all the reasons mentioned above. This means that maintaining good dental hygiene is even important. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, investing in a mouth wash for oral health, and staying on top on your dentist appointments.

Why are women with PCOS more susceptible to oral health issues?

Women with PCOS are more susceptible to oral issues for a wide variety of reasons, the most important of which are mentioned above. Still, here’s a quick list of the ways PCOS may be affecting your oral health:

• Insulin Resistance
• Inflammation
• Hormone Imbalance
• Poor PCOS Management
• Poor Dental Hygiene

And here are some other factors that may also be contributing to your oral health issues:

• Unhealthy Diet
• Genetics
• Excessive Smoking / Drinking
• Regular Contact with Certain Chemicals
• Lack of Energy/Motivation to Maintain Hygiene

What can women with PCOS do to fight oral health issues?

Manage your PCOS symptoms.

Since many PCOS symptoms – insulin resistance, hormone imbalance, inflammation – can contribute to oral health issues, getting your symptoms under control can make a big difference in your overall oral health. Click here for a list of ways you can naturally manage your PCOS symptoms.

If lifestyle change and natural management isn’t cutting it, we recommend speaking to your healthcare provider about Ovasitol.

Try Ovasitol

Ovasitol is one of our favorite supplements when it comes to management of our PCOS symptoms. Ovasitol has shown great success at promoting menstrual regularity, reducing insulin levels, regulating and restoring hormone balances, improving quality in ovulation, and restoring normal ovarian function to women.

Practice good dental hygiene.

• Brush after breakfast and dinner.
• Floss on a regular basis.
• Consider a mouthwash for oral health.*
• Consider oil pulling.

*Some mouthwash contains good bacteria-killing ingredients, as well as endocrine disrupters. Instead of choosing a regular mouthwash, we recommend Dr. H & Co.

Get your daily dose of calcium & vitamin D.

Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for strong bones and teeth. So, you can help ensure good oral hygiene by getting your daily dose of these essential nutrients each and every day. For more information on recommended daily values of these nutrients, as well as where to find good sources, click here ( calcium ) and here ( vitamin D ).

Reduce chronic inflammation.

Reducing chronic inflammation goes hand in hand with managing PCOS symptoms and maintaining good oral health. Identifying possible inflammatory triggers and working to prevent them will not only help prevent inflammation that leads to oral health issues, but it will give your immune system the bandwidth it needs to heal those oral health issues.

Okay Cyster’s that’s a wrap. For more on all things PCOS & Oral Health, click the play button above!

Join us in The Cysterhood, a community of women learning how to manage PCOS & lose weight, Gluten and Dairy Free!

What’s Your PCOS Type? – Take the quiz!

Ovasitol: 15% OFF prc code 292660

Vitamin D: Thera-D® Vitamin D Supplements 15% OFF prc code 292660

Lab kits to help you find the root causes of your PCOS!

—

LET’S CONNECT:

Website: https://PCOSweightloss.org/

Instagram: http://bit.ly/PCOSweightlossIG

Tik Tok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJC2EE26/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PCOSWeightLoss

Pinterest: https://pin.it/5ddl5Uu

While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (Privacy Policy).

Links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide, we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting our channel so we can continue to provide you with free content each week!

Today, we talk about the role gluten, dairy, and toxins play in our health with Dr. Tom O’Bryan! Dr. Tom O’Bryan is an internationally recognized speaker and writer on chronic disease, metabolic disorders, and has more than 30 years of experience as a functional medicine practitioner!

On this episode, we talk about how damage to our bodies accumulate over the years from different factors and turn into debilitating symptoms, such as with PCOS! You’ll learn about an easy-to-implement and researched plan to address symptoms. As well as learn how to make simple lifestyle changes to reverse inflammation and damage caused to your body by gluten, dairy, and toxins!

Here’s a little introduction to this topic for those of you just joining the conversation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an autoimmune disease that takes a toll on the reproductive system, as well as the immune system. In turn, PCOS causes a variety of symptoms – everything from excess hair growth, weight gain, infertility, and mood swings.

Gluten, dairy, and the vast array of environmental toxins we are exposed to in a daily basis can wreak havoc on our immune systems! This is true for all humans out there. But if you’re a women dealing with PCOS and an already compromised immune system, the affects of gluten, dairy, and environmental toxins can also play an important role in the overall management of your PCOS.

If you’re curious about the affects of gluten, dairy, and environmental toxins, hit that play button above. Or, read on, because below we’re going to break down how each of these factors may be contributing to, and/or worsening your PCOS symptoms.

Is Gluten Bad For PCOS?

Gluten, most commonly found in products that contain wheat proteins, is a common cause of intestinal permeability. The gut is simply not made to break down certain wheat proteins. (This is true for everyone, and especially for people with celiac disease and/or gluten intolerance.) And when it is faced with the challenging of doing so, the gut triggers an autoimmune response. A sort of “call for help” to the immune system from the gut for help getting rid of the toxic wheat proteins.

When this “call for help” is sent over and over, and the toxic wheat proteins build up in your system over months and years, the intestines begin to break down and leak. And once this intestinal permeability has reached a certain level of severity, it is often referred to as leaky gut syndrome. A syndrome most Cyster’s are far too familiar with. Leaky gut syndrome is not only uncomfortable, but it triggers inflammation throughout the body. And the simple triggering of your immune system by gluten, and the following inflammation, can lead to the triggering of other PCOS symptoms.

To learn more about gluten, gluten intolerance, wheat allergies, and why the body cannot break down these proteins, click play! You can also find more info about a naturally gluten-free diet & PCOS, HERE.

Is Dairy Bad For PCOS?

Like gluten, dairy such as milk, paneer, cheese and butter, can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Again, possibly triggering a larger autoimmune response by putting more pressure on an already compromised immune system. Thus, possibly triggering PCOS symptoms. This is especially true for people that suffer with lactose intolerance. Even more, consuming dairy on a regular basis when your body has an intolerance can lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leaky gut syndrome, and more.

Dairy is also known to increase insulin levels in some Cysters. This oftentimes results in symptoms like high blood pressure and weight gain. Because many women with PCOS are already predisposed to higher insulin levels and insulin resistance, these higher levels of insulin throughout the body can have damaging effects on the thyroid, reproductive system, and immune system as well.

Check out some of our favorite dairy alternatives, HERE.

How Environmental Toxins Affect PCOS?

To name just a few, environmental toxins that you could be exposed to on a daily basis include:

• Gasoline
• Butane
• Nail polish
• Paint
• Candles
• Chemicals in processed foods
• Micro-plastics
• Dust
• Flame retardant chemicals in sheets and blankets
• Birth control pills

These environmental toxins are just that, toxins. They inflame cells throughout the body, disrupting both the endocrine (hormone producing) and immune systems. Hormonal disruptions and cellular inflammation are both very common causes of PCOS symptom flare-ups.

Environmental factors also play a role in the reproductive system by disrupting hormone levels, including androgen and estrogen levels. Thus affecting Cyster’s menstrual cycles, fertility, and ability to release eggs.

Interested in going gluten and dairy free for PCOS? Click here for a guide on how to get started.

To learn more about the affects of gluten, dairy, and environmental toxins, click the play button above!

Going gluten & dairy free (and avoiding environmental toxins as best you can) may not be the solution to all your health problems. But, it may be a step in the right direction when it comes to the overall management of your PCOS. If you’ve got gluten or dairy on the brain, learn more on our blog. There, you’ll also find our library of information about PCOS. As well as our tips and tricks to help you better manage your PCOS. Talk soon, Cysters!

Resources

Check out Dr. Tom O’ Bryan’s recipes (theDR.com Educational Resources), excerpted from his book The Autoimmune Fix. It Includes 3 weeks of a simple & delicious nutrition plan, during which you remove gluten, sweets, and dairy—the three primary culprits behind autoimmunity, and replace them with a series of powerful & vibrant foods. You can find more resources on his website (thedr.com) and Instagram (@dr.tomobryan)!

Call our PCOS Weight Loss Hotline at 1-833-ASK-PCOS (1-833-275-7267). You can leave a question or tell us how we’ve helped you! We might just play your message on the podcast to inspire other Cysters!

Join us in The Cysterhood, a community of women learning how to manage PCOS & lose weight, Gluten and Dairy Free! (bit.ly/The-Cysterhood)

PCOS Friendly CBD: 10% OFF code TheCysterhood (bit.ly/CBDpcos)

Ovasitol Packets: 15% OFF prc code 292660 (bit.ly/Ovasitol)

What is Inositol and how does it help women with PCOS? The inventor of Inositol, Dr. Mark Ratner, joins us to discuss the benefits of Inositol!

Were you prescribed Metformin by your doctor? Dr. Mark Ratner explains the difference between Metformin and natural inositol supplements like Inositol Complete 40:1 as well as covering studies confirming the effectiveness of different forms of inositol supplements compared to Metformin!

What effect does Inositol have on helping pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes for women with PCOS? Dr. Mark Ratner explains the role insulin resistance plays in women with PCOS and how an inositol supplement can be vital.

We also pulled your questions from Instagram and asked Dr. Mark Ratner on the episode, tune in to hear all your most popular questions about Inositol answered!

You can hear about all this and more in the episode above! For a breakdown of the most important info from today’s episode, READ ON CYSTERS!

Metformin vs Inositol

Metformin and Inositol are both very popular among the PCOS community. But although they are very similar, they work in the body in different ways.

Metformin is what you would call an insulin sensitizer. It works to lower blood glucose levels and insulin in the body by suppressing the liver’s production of glucose, increasing the sensitivity of your liver, muscles, fat, and cells to the insulin your body makes, and decreasing the absorption of carbohydrates you consume.

Metformin is known to have plenty of benefits for women with PCOS. These include lower insulin levels, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, better menstrual cycle regulation, and improved fertility. The thing is, Metformin doesn’t work for everyone with PCOS. And even more importantly, Metformin has 5x greater risk for adverse side-effects.

On the other hand, we have Inositol Complete 40:1, our favorite PCOS supplement. Inositol Complete 40:1 is a natural inositol supplement that works a little differently in the body than Metformin. Most women with PCOS have a defect in their insulin receptors that slows the opening of glucose-consuming cells. When this happens, the body can’t properly get rid of all that glucose, pushing it to create even more insulin. Hence your PCOS symptoms. So basically, Inositol Complete 40:1 works like a vitamin supplement in the body to override this defect and ensure that these cells are ready to absorb glucose, reducing the need for the body to create more insulin.

Here in the Cysterhood, we love Inositol Complete 40:1. When comparing Inositol Complete 40:1 and Metformin, you will see they have many similarities when it comes to effectiveness. BUT, you will also see that Inositol Complete 40:1 has significantly less adverse effects than Metformin. All you Cyster’s that are currently taking (or previously took) Metformin know exactly what we mean here.

Can Inositol Be Taken With Metformin

Yes, you can take Inositol and Metformin at the same time. Why? Because they work differently in the body, meaning that they don’t interact with each other to create any adverse effects. In fact, many women with PCOS who take Metaformin and supplement with Inositol have seen great overall improvement in their PCOS symptoms.

Still, its important to check with your doctor before adding any additional dietary supplements or medications to your PCOS management plan.

Why Is Inositol Good For PCOS

Inositol is good for PCOS for a plethora of reasons. We’ll list out all the benefits below. It’s important to note here, though, that many Cyster’s choose Inositol over Metformin and there are several reasons for this.

First, Inositol has shown greater success helping women achieve their weight loss goals with PCOS when compared to Metformin. More on that below. Inositol also has significantly less adverse side-effects than Metformin, which can greatly improve quality of life for women with PCOS. And lastly, women with PCOS who choose Inositol also tend to have better success when it comes to reducing depression, anxiety and stress.

Does Inositol Help with Weight Loss

This is a question we receive quite often and the answer is this. Inositol may help women with PCOS lose weight. Inositol is known to reduce sugar cravings, as well as lower insulin and glusose levels. All of which can help Cyster’s shed those extra pounds. (If that’s your goal, of course.)

However, its important to keep in mind that Inositol is not a weight loss supplement. So while it may assist Cyster’s with their weight loss goals, a healthy diet combined with exercise and other PCOS management techniques may also be required to achieve your goals.

Benefits of Inositol

• Better regulation of menstrual cycle
• Promotes more consistent ovulation
• Improves ovarian functioning
• Improves overall egg quality
• Helps curb those carb cravings
• Decreases the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy
• Lowers insulin and glucose levels
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Lowers inflammation throughout the body
• Improves anxiety along with depression
• Improves acne all over the body

For more on Inositol and PCOS, click the play button above!

Join us in The Cysterhood, a community of women learning how to manage PCOS & lose weight, Gluten and Dairy Free! (bit.ly/The-Cysterhood-Membership)

While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (bit.ly/PCOSPrivacyPolicy)