Natural treatment options

Thankfully, there are many things that you can do naturally to mitigate your symptoms, get your hormone levels back on track, and put PCOS into remission. These are some of the most foundational.

1. Diet

In functional medicine, we understand just how powerful diet is to your overall health. Knowing that PCOS is correlated with high blood sugar and obesity, a diet focused on addressing insulin levels through reduced sugar consumption and clean, whole foods higher in fat and protein would be one way of addressing PCOS-related ovarian cysts.

2. Exercise

Exercise is important for more than just physical appearance. When it comes to hormone health, physical activity like strength training and cardio have been shown to increase insulin sensitivity. (1)

READ NEXT: The Best PCOS Diet Plan With Food List And Grocery Shopping Tips

Best supplements for PCOS

Since the body is so interconnected there are many supplements that could be considered PCOS supplements for their ability to improve pathways associated with hormone health, inflammation, and blood sugar balance. However, the best PCOS supplements have been studied extensively in correlation with PCOS for their ability to directly improve symptoms. 

1. Myo-inositol

One of my all-time favorite PCOS supplements is Myo-inositol. This supplement has been shown to reduce the size of polycystic ovaries (2) and increase egg quality (3) — two of the main causes of PCOS-related infertility. Myo-inositol is so effective that in one controlled trial, researchers found that women with PCOS taking myo-inositol supplements achieved a natural pregnancy rate of 30% over a 6-month period compared to just 18% on metformin, a diabetes drug that has become the go-to treatment for PCOS in the conventional medicine world. (4)

2. Curcumin

We can do everything under the sun to improve our health, but if our inflammation levels are still high, chances are we are still going to struggle with ongoing health problems, including PCOS. Curcumin - the main compound found in turmeric - is a powerful anti-inflammatory that has wide-reaching effects on multiple inflammatory health problems.

The Curcumin from my supplement line includes the extensively studied cucrumin extract BCM-95, which further enhances the absorption of curcuminoids when compared to conventional curcumin supplements that have poor absorption in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, quick metabolism, and rapid elimination from the body.

2. N-Acetyl-cysteine

Often called NAC, N-acetyl-cysteine is a plant antioxidant found in onions. It has been used as a drug since the 1960s and with multiple studies looking at its ability to help boost fertility. One study found that NAC was able to improve both oocyte and embryo quality in women with PCOS. (5) NAC can also help improve insulin sensitivity.

3. Chromium

Chromium is an often overlooked micronutrient with deficiencies being linked to an increased risk of insulin resistance and high triglyceride levels. Supplementing with chromium can be a simple way to improve the function of blood sugar receptors. (6)

4. Zinc

Zinc isn’t just for fighting off a cold. In cases of hormone health in relation to PCOS, zinc works to increase your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that promotes ovulation, and in turn, progesterone production.

5. Fish oil

Another one of my favorite PCOS supplements, fish oil can help attack PCOS from multiple different angles. Studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can help manage blood sugar levels while also working to drive down inflammation to improve ovulation and other PCOS symptoms. (7)

Unlike other fish oils that can be hit or miss in terms of bioavailability, The Omega+ from my supplement line The Collection is formulated with MaxSimil® monoglyceride fish oil that has a three times greater EPA+DHA absorption rate than an equivalent dose of other leading fish oils.

6. COQ10

Short for coenzyme Q10, CoQ10 is found in every cell in the body and can positively improve fasting blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, and testosterone levels in those with PCOS. (8)

7. Probiotics

Like many other health problems, researchers have also correlated PCOS with leaky gut syndrome and bacterial dysbiosis in the gut. (9) Probiotics are an easy way to restore your microbiome health as studies have found that supplementation was able to restore both hormone and inflammation levels in patients with PCOS. (10)

The Probiotic from my supplement line The Collection contains 100 billion CFUs per capsule of four strains of beneficial bacteria, including the extensively studied HN019 strain of Bifidobacterium lactis.

8. Resveratrol

This powerful antioxidant can be found naturally in foods like berries and grape skins. Supplementation has shown promise for managing PCOS due to its ability to support healthy inflammation levels, regulate the production of androgens, and improve insulin sensitivity. (11)

9. Vitamin D

This nutrient is utilized by every single cell of your body and plays an important role in fertility but it is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in America. Regular supplementation can help women with PCOS by improving menstrual regularity and fertility rates. (12)

Consulting a functional medicine professional for PCOS treatment

When it comes to your health, especially hormone problems, every person is different. Since your biochemistry is unique to you, your triggers and symptoms are going to manifest differently than someone else. The same can be said for natural remedies - what works for one person might not work for you.

That’s why working with a functional medicine practitioner can be your best course of action when addressing PCOS. In my clinic we look at your entire health case including diet, emotional triggers, and lifestyle factors that could be contributing to your health problems in order to come up with the best natural solutions. By getting to the root cause of your PCOS we can recommend the best PCOS supplements and other changes to facilitate happy and healthy hormones.

If you are ready to take the next step on your PCOS healing journey, check out our telehealth functional medicine clinic and our consultation process.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

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