The Hemp Connection [Search results for lifestyle] 

Thought I would bring a psychotherapist's perspective to treating PCOS. In the past few months I have attended three scientific conferences and one practitioners conference on PCOS. The one unanimous and certain recommendation from every one of them was 'lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle'. But what does that mean? Does it mean eat less and exercise more? Does it mean feel shame when you indulge in holiday egg nog this season? No. Lifestyle to me means just that…style your life. Make changes to honor your life and take care of your chronic condition. Attached is an outline I wrote to help me explain and promote 'Lifestyle' to my clients.

Treating PCOS: Lifestyle for Success A Psychotherapist's Approach Stacy Korfist, LMFT
L is for the lifestyle change that is critical to make. No more diets, no more ‘someday’. Lifestyle change obviously includes nutrition and exercise, but it also includes stress management, adopting a new way of living, a new way of coping and a new way of playing that is essential.

I is for Identity. This is your sense of self; your self esteem. This includes facing anxiety and depression. Setting appropriate boundaries helps you to claim yourself. I is also for Integrity. No more broken promises to yourself or others. They only lead to self deprecation and more shame and depression. Be a person of your word.

F is Food & Feelings. Eat when you are hungry; stop when you are full. Understand the thoughts and ideas which fuel eating behaviors. Learn all you can about insulin resistance. Don’t be fooled into another diet that is too difficult to sustain. See a dietitian that knows about polycystic ovarian syndrome.

E is the Education and knowledge that you must obtain in order to take care of yourself. PCOS is a chronic condition, not one that requires only medication. YOU must be your own case manager. PCOS involves almost every organ in your body. Learn about lab work and what your results mean. Don’t assume your treatment team is aware of your ‘whole self’. Trust yourself. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Remember, PCOS is a syndrome, a squirrely disorder which pops up in many places.

S is for Support and Healthy Environment. Surround yourself with encouraging people and rid yourself of as much conflict and chronic stress as possible. Pay a little more for organic food and avoid false estrogens in plastics and cleaning products.

T is Teamwork. You can’t do this alone. Ask for help, make plans ahead and let others help you. Being strongly-weak will get you so much farther than being weakly-strong. Assess your treatment team. Are you being seen by too many providers; broken up into too many pieces? Are you taking too many medications?

Y is for YES! Yes is the attitude to have. In order to avoid deprivation backlash, it’s important to focus on what you can have versus what you cannot have. Live with full passion. Y is also for Yesterday. Let go of yesterday and focus on today and tomorrow. Having a positive future-focus will help achieve successful endeavors.

L is for Lower Threshold, not lower calories. Although weight loss is important for some, reducing calories too much can prove counter-productive. People with PCOS can have a lower threshold for oxidative stress. It doesn’t take as much to put the body in stress mode. Exercising too much or restricting too little are stressful on the body. When you do this, you often experience backlash and yo-yo weight gain.

E is for Energy and Experiential Therapies. Learn mindfulness skills. Occupy your body. Achieve mind-body congruity. Change requires an awakening. We awaken in movement, awaken in relationship and awaken in journaling and art. This allows us to be with ourselves, in our own space. It teaches us self monitoring and self regulation, which slows down reactivity.

Stacy Korfist, LMFT
Redondo Beach, California
(310) 720-6443
info@pcosnetwork.com

You’ve heard it a thousand times, from every doctor, dietician, and well-meaning person you’ve ever encountered – you’ve got to lose weight, get out there and get some exercise, and change what you’re doing with your body when you’ve got PCOS. It’s important advice, to be sure, yet tedious to hear – and sometimes when we’re in the midst of trying to change our lifestyle and behaviors, we forget why we’re doing it.

All we hear is this pointed and difficult direction to improve things, and we fail to spend time linking it intellectually and emotionally to positive outcome, which helps drive motivation. It’s particularly frustrating with PCOS, because change occurs painfully slowly, and when you don’t see change, you lose motivation. Others can go on a diet and lose five pounds immediately, whereas that’s rarely the case for someone with PCOS.

Sometimes the changes are only visible when you get your lab results every few months, and the doctor congratulates you on lowering your cholesterol 20 points (personally, I don’t find that terribly exciting, although I know that it’s good) – in which case you might get it intellectually, but still be saying “yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s great, but where’s the weight loss?!” What we want is weight loss, pregnancy, a reduction in hirsutism, or some other visible proof that what we’re doing is working.

When you really understand the importance of exercise for both your body and your brain though it’s a little easier to stick with a program of self-improvement. In a 2011 study entitled Lifestyle Changes in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, researchers examined numerous studies, papers, and research projects and validated the benefits of lifestyle change. Women with PCOS who made positive dietary, exercise, and lifestyle changes (i.e., stress reduction, increased movement, lower glycemic diets) experienced reductions in weight, testosterone levels, waist circumference, and other meaningful markers of the syndrome.

To support not only weight loss and improvement in body composition, but also, from my perspective as a psychologist, the stress reduction and mental re-wiring that goes on as a result of exercise are spectacular. I particularly like the following forms of exercise:

Walking – the cross-lateral motion of walking oxygenates and re-synchs your brain, and leads to a literal feeling of “clearing out” – plus walking is an excellent low-impact exercise that leads to improved glucose control. Does it get any better than that?!

Yoga – numerous studies continue to validate the importance of yoga for stress reduction and pain management. A study entitled Stress, Inflammation, and Yoga Practice indicated that yoga practice, regardless of skill level, resulted in marked reductions in both stress level and, even more exciting to those with PCOS, inflammation! Many fertility improvement programs involve yoga and other forms of stress reduction. And, while you’re improving your physical balance, you might just be improving your mental balance as well.

Swimming – swimming in a pool, lake, river, or ocean can be soothing and meditative. We are made primarily of water, and it is a return to water, and to the center of our selves. The silence and internal nature of the echoes and ripples brings us back into alignment with our natural rhythmic movement patterns.

Dancing – improves coordination, synthesizes mind/body, and is a form of creative expression. Much emotion is stored in the body, and can be expressed through the body. Plus, dancing is fun, at least when you “dance as if nobody’s looking!”

Weight training – feeling a strong body is empowering, and increases confidence. Sure, it’s hard work, but it has profound mental benefit when you conquer that final set, and your lifting is finished. There’s a sense of accomplishment and pride that boosts your self-esteem for hours. You’ll move better in your body too, and perhaps respect it a little more, for its ability to become so strong. (By the way, this is one really positive aspect of PCOS – that androgen imbalance will allow you to develop muscles more quickly!)

The mind and body are inseparable. If you work on improving the mental (motivation, drive, commitment), you will improve the physical. If you work on the physical, you’ll achieve the psychological rewards of calming, anxiety reduction, and depression reduction. Additionally, you’ll have fun and also be doing the right thing to keep your self-improvement program going. That leads to increased confidence, self-esteem, and overall improvement in your sense of well-being.

Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D. is a Health Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles, California. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders and chronic illnesses.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, or obtain referrals in the Los Angeles area, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com, or e-mail her at Gretchen@drhousemd.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askdrhousemd.

References:

Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Christian L, Preston H, Houts CR, Malarkey WB, Emery CF, Glaser R. Stress, inflammation, and yoga practice. Published in final edited form as: Psychosom Med. 2010 February; 72(2): 113. Published online 2010 January 11. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181cb9377.

Moran LJ, Hutchison SK, Norman RJ, Teede HJ. Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD007506. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007506.pub2.Australia, 3168.

I have had a handful of inquiries in the last week about an inCYST fertility consultation. I thought I would lay out, honestly, what it is we do and what we do not do, in order that you know exactly what it is you are contacting us for when you do, and to prevent disappointment by hoping we might be something we are not.

1. We do not make babies. We are not fertility clinics. If what you are looking for, is someone to give you a baby, a fertility clinic is where you should be asking for help.

2. We DO, if there is anything about your lifestyle that has the potential to interfere with fertility…be it sleep, nutrition, activity, stress management…have a strong ability to identify what it is and to help you replace the behavior in question with a more fertility-friendly option.

3. We DO assume that you are willing to make changes in your behavior and that this is an active partnership. We cannot live those lifestyle changes for you. We cannot become pregnant for you.

4. We DO NOT consider ourselves to be an"either — or" issue, in competition with the fertility industry. In fact, I am quite surprised at how few of our fans do not invest in a proactive inCYST consultation on deciding to go with IVF. If anything, we can help to be sure you are in the absolute best physical and mental condition to be in upon engaging in a physically and mentally challenging procedure. Just as an Olympic athlete would want to be nutritionally and physically ready for the big event, we believe partnering with us is good insurance that all of the money and stress you are about to encounter is worth the investment.

5. We DO NOT believe that there is a high success rate among women who do have lifestyle issues interfering with their fertility, who believe they can bypass the effort and inconvenience of changing that lifestyle with a medical procedure. You cannot fool Mother Nature.

6. We DO NOT provide false hope. That would be cruel.

7. We DO NOT pressure potential clients. Women with infertility are stressed enough as it is.

8. We DO NOT hang our celebrity clients out on a shingle as marketing tools. Celebrities need their privacy too.

9. We DO believe enough in what we do to be willing to work to create a research foundation to pursue our findings in a scientific fashion.

10. We have seen miracles, but we do not promise them.

We'd like to think we have a whole lot to offer you, but we won't chase it down. That is because the clients most likely to succeed with our program are not the ones we have to chase down and convince of our value. It's the ones who already believe in us.

We hope that this describes you, but if it is not, we respect the differences and truly wish you the best.

Have you given up on changing your lifestyle because you've read that PCOS has a genetic connection? Did you know that what you eat, among other things, affects how your genes behave?

We've got a webinar on the topic tomorrow. If you can't make the live session, it will be available to purchase in its recorded form through December 31, 2010. This webinar can be attended individually, or as a component of the comprehensive PCOS professional training. The individual session costs $40, and the comprehensive training is $425.

Please note the time for YOUR TIME ZONE:
2 pm Eastern Daylight Time
1 pm Central Daylight Time
12 noon Mountain Daylight Time
11 am Pacific Daylight Time/Arizona

Linda's webinar will include
- Understanding the basics of genetics
- Fundamentals of Nutritional Genomics
- How diet and lifestyle can influence gene expression
- Why your DNA is not your destiny

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Linda Caley, MA, RD, is a registered dietitian in private practice in Colchester, Connecticut. Her practice focuses on providing nutritional therapy and guidance for individuals of all ages. In addition to PCOS, she enjoys working with people with eating disorders and distorted body image, weight management issues, diabetes, and general, healthy lifestyle recommendations.

Linda has a special interest in functional medicine/nutrition, and its application to PCOS management.

Click here to register.

I have been taught that 50% of what influences PCOS is genetic, 25% is nutrition, and 25% is lifestyle.

I have observed that when a person is told they have a"genetically" influenced issue, they tend to view that as a"get out of jail free" card when it comes to making healthy lifestyle choices. In other words, why should you have to worry about lifestyle if genes have so much control?

It is not that simple.

Yes, DNA programs disease risk. But did you know that nutrition can influence DNA? The foods you eat can influence how your DNA expresses itself. So even though the major things we know how to measure with regards to nutrition and PCOS look to be about 25% of the answer, nutrition has an indirect influence on another 50% of what is going on.

The area of study that looks at the influence of diet on genetics is called nutrigenomics. One example you've seen here in this blog is our caution of excessive chromium use and its potential to cause DNA damage.

Too much of a nutrient, too little of a nutrient, imbalances between nutrients…all can be important influences.

The most important thing to NOT do is stop taking good care of yourself and assuming there is nothing that can be done until genetics researchers discover a cure. Chances are, they're going to still encourage you to make many of the same choices you can make right now to help those genes be healthy.

For some reason, I have been placed on the mailing list for a fertility researcher in the UK who is doing some interesting work looking at how fertility doctors conduct their treatments around the world. I actually tried to answer his survey, but since none of the choices available to me had anything to do with changing diet and lifestyle, I was not allowed to complete it.

That is something I find very interesting, that it would not even occur to a fertility specialist to consider the nutritional status of the client and the nutritional interventions provided clients as important variables to consider. Dr. Balen, if you ever wish to consider those factors, now you know where I am.: )

Anyway, I thought the readers of this blog would find some of the results of this study to be interesting. I'll put my commentaries in italics.

This is a summary of 179,300 IVF treatments conducted in 262 fertility centers on every continent where there is a fertility center…meaning Antarctica was not on the list.

1. 73.3% of these cases were assessed for impaired glucose tolerance. That means that 26.67%, or 47,694 women, were not.
--I would be interested to see the geographic distribution of these answers. Several years ago, I moderated a listserve in Spanish for women with PCOS and it was rare in that group to hear of women being treated for insulin resistance. I actually had to go on strike and refuse to give out any more information until the women in the group who had not been evaluated, got the evaluation. About three months later, we had about 6 pregnant women amongst us.: )
--Not sure why, since PCOS has such a strong connection to insulin resistance and it is the number one cause of infertility, this assessment simply is not a universal precaution?

2. 61.3% of the physicians who chose to assess for impaired glucose intolerance were only doing so in obese patients.
--Here we go again, the invisible lean cyster. If up to 70% of women with PCOS are NOT obese, consider the number of infertility cases that are made more complicated than they need to be, simply because of a misperception of what PCOS has to"look like" in order to be taken seriously.

3. 69% of the physicians surveyed, in their PCOS patients, considered clomiphene citrate to be the first line of treatment.
--I would love to know how they would have answered this if they had been given the option of nutrition/lifestyle/sleep hygiene consultation had been an option to answer.

4. Cutoffs for treatment based on BMI:
30% would not treat if BMI was greater than 30
33% would not treat if BMI was greater than 35
20% would not treat if BMI was greater than 40
6% would not treat if BMI was greater than 45
--Which has me wondering, again, why nutrition/lifestyle/sleep hygiene consultations are not considered the absolute essential first line of treatment.

So lean women, apparently, even though their BMI's would be considered appropriate by these practitioners, would not be given the assessment that would help them get the proper treatment.

And obese women, apparently, are not given any direction regarding what to do to bring their BMI into a workable range.

If you're still wondering why your patients with PCOS can be so angry, skeptical, and emotional, maybe you would have better success with an accounting career.

Imagine how much more successful my colleagues in these 262 treatment centers would be if they partnered with professionals who know how to do something about those quandaries.

We'd love to help you improve on those statistics.

The invitation is open.

Source: PCOS – Definition, Diagnosis and Treatment, a survey compiled by Prof. Adam Balen, Leeds Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, U.K

The most common question I get as an Herbalista is, "What can I do to feel well again?" There are many things we can do to incorporate wellness in to our body, mind, soul, and earth and I use this 5-step acronym that I've developed to simply my options: FHEEL F= Food

The first step to feeling better is to examine what we're fueling up on. It tends to be in our best interested to avoid fried and fatty foods in general, but especially so for those of us with PCOS. Instead, aim to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and healthy proteins with some fruit, dairy, and whole grains sprinkled in. Try and get a rainbow-colored variety of foods in your diet, striving for more of the darker/richer colored foods (kale, spinach, dandelion greens, mustard green, collard greens, broccoli, beets, blackberries, blueberries, pomegranates, squashes, sweet potatoes, carrots) and less of the lighter and whiter foods (citrus, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, pastas, rice, sugar, white potatoes, butter, dairy).

H= Herbs

If a whole foods diet isn't giving you everything you need in the moment, adding herbs can help! Start with adding simple spices to your meals like garlic (detoxifying herb that is great for the digestive system), rosemary (supports the brain and is antibacterial), and ginger (supports the circulatory and digestive system and is helpful for migraines). Other culinary spices that are easy to incorporate are cinnamon, turmeric, pepper, fennel, cayenne, thyme, sage, and clove. I highly recommend talking with a Holistic Healthcare practitioner, Naturopath, Herbalist, or other trained botanical medicine professional about herbs that can be specifically helpful to your desired wellness goals.

E= Essences and Essential Oils

Both Flower Essences and Essentials Oils are lovely tools that really support more the emotional, spiritual, and mental journey of wellness. Flower Essences have no reaction to medications, allergies, children or pets and work specifically on our current state of emotions. There are as many brands as there are flowers, from all parts of the world, so please read up on the companies as well as the products before choosing an essence. Essential oils are potent blend of botanical oils that have specific methods of delivery. Because there are highly concentrated amounts of naturally occurring chemicals in essential oils, it is extremely important to handle them with an informed and delicate manner. As always, consult with an Aromatherapist or Flower Essence practitioner for recommendations.

E= Energy Therapies and Exercise

When there still seems to be components of our wellness that need some extra attention, energy therapies and exercise can be very beneficial. Research the many benefits of Massage Therapy, Yoga, Acupuncture, Reiki, Polarity, Reflexology, Circuit Training, and many other healing arts and fitness programs. With any area of wellness, there are both reputable, competent companies and practitioners of theses energy therapies, as well as not so reputable nor competent companies and practitioners. Choose wisely after researching local resources in your community. I like to ask where they received their training from, how long have they have been in practice, and also what the whole process is from start to finish before signing up or paying for an appointment. Other energy therapies and exercises that can be helpful are: meditation/prayer, affirmations, journaling, hypnotherapy, life coaching, joining a gym/health club, getting a personal trainer, and dance styles like zumba/jazzercise/ballroom/swing/two-step and line dancing.

L= Lifestyle Changes

Making some more intense changes in lifestyle habits may be necessary in order to achieved our desired wellness goals. Most often, habits like smoking, drinking, eating too much fast food or snacks, not exercising, drinking soda and sugary beverages,and having too much or too little sleep can tremendously impact the state of our health. When setting your wellness goals, really emphasize the reasons for choosing those specific goals and concentrate on those reasons during the challenging moments. Tell your friends and family about your wellness goals the lifestyle changes you are making to help keep you accountable and motivate you during the ups and downs. Create a vision board or goal chart to showcase your progress. There are many tools and apps available to help you at any age or stage of wellness and life so identify those goals, develop a route to wellness, seek advice if you need help meeting those goals and chart your progress to see how well you're doing and how close you are to meeting and exceeding those goals!

I leave you with this last tidbit to remember, words of wisdom I try to live by: Wellness is a Journey, Not a Destination. Strive for Progress, Not Perfection… Know that every step, every breath, and each moment counts as progress, so long as we consciously choose to be well.

~Choose to be and"fheel" well-- The Herbalista

I recently started to tell a good friend about the antioxidant power of turmeric. He stopped me midsentence.

"What is it with all this antioxidant stuff? First it was pomegranates. Then it was Mongolian gojis. It's something different every day."

(Insert big sigh and eye roll here.)

"Can you even tell me what an antioxidant looks like?"

My friend's reaction verified something I've sensed for awhile now. In our quest to show how much we know about antioxidants, we've thrown long words and catch phrases at the public, to the point where the concept has become nothing more than hype.

It's not long after any concept hits"hype mode" that it becomes passe. And being passe is absolutely not what the average antioxidant should be, to ANYONE.

So, I'd like to answer my friend's question. My answer is somewhat long, but I will do my best to encourage him--and you--to see past the hype that's been flung at all those innocent pomegranates and beets and Indian curries!

Here are ten important things to know about antioxidants.

1. AN ANTIOXIDANT IS LIKE RUSTPROOF FOR YOUR BODY. Oxidation is the natural process of something breaking down over time. On your car, oxidation looks like rust. Oxidation in humans isn't much different; it's somewhat of a biological rusting out process. So an antioxidant, really, is human rustproofing.

2. AN ANTIOXIDANT SLOWS DOWN AGING. This is primarily a blog for women with PCOS. What does aging have to do with that? PCOS is a disease of inflammation, and inflammation is an aging process. If you stand back and look at the big picture, a lot of the symptoms of PCOS are actually indications of an accelerated aging process--arthritis, forgetfulness, poor sleep, diabetes at an early age, premature menopause--I am struck at how many of my clients really present as old people in young peoples' bodies. Just as there really is no cure for the wear and tear on the body of a car that works better than prevention, PCOS needs preventive action. It's about choosing food, activity and lifestyle behaviors that make it easier for your body to stay young. It IS possible to reverse some aging, but it's a whole lot easier to prevent aging before it happens. Making good antioxidant choices every day is an important part of your personal rustproofing plan (PRP).

3. DON'T JUDGE AN ANTIOXIDANT BY ITS SCRABBLE SCORE. This one drives me nuts. Nutritionists tend to be extremely detail oriented, and they seem to have adopted this compulsion to throw dozens of new long words at the public. I am equally as nerdy when it comes to biochemistry, but there is a place for those words. If seeing them in an article isn't inspiring you to put some new and different foods on your shopping list, what's the point?

I don't believe in dumbing down the public, but I have to admit, much of what I read has MY eyes glazing over because how the word was spelled or pronounced was apparently more important to the author than what's in it for me to care.

If you're adding a few beets at the salad bar or learning to cook Indian curries, that's what matters. The chemicals will help you to be healthier, whether or not you can spell or pronounce them.

4. THE BEST ANTIOXIDANTS ARE FOUND IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING. I graduated from college in 1982, and there were only a handful of antioxidants to learn about at the most. Back then (I guess you could say the nutritional dark ages!) we learned mostly about vitamins and minerals. Many of the compounds we knew about, were extracted and sold as"complete nutritional replacements". Of course, the definition of"complete" was based on our limited knowledge of what food actually contains. They weren't really complete because they did not contain the antioxidant compounds we didn't even know about!

That, for me, was a huge lesson learned, about how much of an expert I can truly be in this field. There will always be things I don't know, and need to know, and my responsibility as a health educator is to be as complete in talking about what I don't know as I do about what I do know.

Therefore, my advice when it comes to antioxidants and supplements, is not to focus on what the most important, most perfect antioxidant might be, then to extract it and consume it in large quantities. Rather, look for opportunities to eat whole foods that are as close to the ground and/or tree when you consume them. The more something is sliced, diced, extracted, powdered, concentrated, the less like nature it is.

Remember, whole is best. There may be important nutritional compounds we have yet to learn about that aren't in those expensive antioxidant supplements.

5. ANTIOXIDANTS ARE COLORFUL CHARACTERS. Your plate needs a variety of colors if it's also going to contain antioxidants. I created this graphic last summer to illustrate the concept. If you're eating lots of reds and blues, and are judicious about which white foods you choose, that's a good start. But remember the greens, yellows, and oranges, too! It's really not that hard to choose colorfully. A plate of food that contains a lot of colors is also attractive. Would you rather have a plate of white fish, cauliflower, and mashed potatoes, or a chicken salad packed with apples, walnuts, and spinach?

Eat patriotically--doesn't matter what country--if you put color on your plate, you can't go wrong.

6. ANTIOXIDANTS LOVE A GOOD PARTY! Antioxidants tend to be more effective in the presence of other antioxidants. In other words, you'll get more bang for your buck out of Compound A if you are also eating Compound B. That's why there is no such thing as the ultimate antioxidant. Just like you have less fun at a party if you act like a wallflower, your"health party" will be a whole lot more worthwhile if you introduce and mingle different compounds.

7. ANTIOXIDANTS LOVE THE GYM. Antioxidants have an interesting relationship with exercise. Exercise, because it raises metabolism, is actually an oxidative activity. However…when you exercise regularly, your body becomes more efficient at storing antioxidants for future use, and then mobilizing them to areas where exercise has raised your metabolism. To get the best advantage out of exercise, it's important to (1) not overexercise, but (2) exercise regularly, and (3) be sure the diet you eat on a regular basis is full of colorful foods.

8. ANTIOXIDANTS ARE HOMEBODIES. When fruits are picked early so they can be shipped to distant markets, they're not allowed to ripen and develop their fullest antioxidant potential. When fruits are processed so they can be stored and consumed through off-seasons, they lose antioxidant power. So while I love blueberries and I appreciate their antioxidant power, they are more of a summer treat for me. Since I live in Arizona, I try to eat lots of citrus in the winter, watermelon in the summer, and to use foods from other areas as occasional treats. Every locality has its specialties. Become familiar with what's in season in your area, and if you travel, experiment with local specialties. A Goji berry is definitely a powerful antioxidant tool, but you can be antioxidant friendly even if your plate was not partially picked by distant farmers on exotic hillsides. Some of your greatest antioxidant friends may be lurking just down the road at your local organic farm.

9. ANTIOXIDANTS SHOULD NOT BREAK YOUR BUDGET. When you eat seasonally, you should also save money. In fact, one of the easy way to know what fruits and vegetables are in season is to look for what is cheap! If you frequent your local farmer's market, what you see at the majority of the stands is likely the local seasonal offering. I like eating seasonally because foods move in and out of my menu and I don't get bored because I'm eating the same thing over and over again. Get to know how seasons affect food availability in your area, and plan menus around that. It is fun, not to mention tasty!

10. THE BEST ANTIOXIDANT OF ALL--IS A PROACTIVE LIFESTYLE. OK, here's a picture of an antioxidant. (A face only a molecule mother could love…) What it looks like isn't as important as what it does. An antioxidant keeps you healthy and young! Any choice you make that creates an imbalance--too much exercise and not enough rest, not enough sleep, an imbalanced diet, poor stress management--puts you at risk of antioxidant deficiency. If you're not making good lifestyle choices and assuming a supplement will absorb the imbalance, you're putting yourself at even greater risk. Be sure your diet has a lot of variety and color.

Even better, apply that mentality to the rest of your life.
--Create a social support network with a variety of personalities that encourage the best in you to come out, and who accept you for who you are without unrealistic expectations.
--Participate in a few different physical activities that allow muscles to rest while others work.
--Do things that make you laugh! (Yes, in a way, your favorite corny movie is an antioxidant!)
--Do something creative.

There are many kinds of antioxidants that have nothing to do with nutrition. Be sure your choices add up to move you in the direction of capitalizing on them, rather than putting you in a position where you need to supplement to reverse damage that didn't need to be done.

OK, good friend, I hope I answered your question and you made it to the end of this blog post without rolling those eyes again!

I recently started to tell a good friend about the antioxidant power of turmeric. He stopped me midsentence.

"What is it with all this antioxidant stuff? First it was pomegranates. Then it was Mongolian gojis. It's something different every day."

(Insert big sigh and eye roll here.)

"Can you even tell me what an antioxidant looks like?"

My friend's reaction verified something I've sensed for awhile now. In our quest to show how much we know about antioxidants, we've thrown long words and catch phrases at the public, to the point where the concept has become nothing more than hype.

It's not long after any concept hits"hype mode" that it becomes passe. And being passe is absolutely not what the average antioxidant should be, to ANYONE.

So, I'd like to answer my friend's question. My answer is somewhat long, but I will do my best to encourage him--and you--to see past the hype that's been flung at all those innocent pomegranates and beets and Indian curries!

Here are ten important things to know about antioxidants.

1. AN ANTIOXIDANT IS LIKE RUSTPROOF FOR YOUR BODY. Oxidation is the natural process of something breaking down over time. On your car, oxidation looks like rust. Oxidation in humans isn't much different; it's somewhat of a biological rusting out process. So an antioxidant, really, is human rustproofing.

2. AN ANTIOXIDANT SLOWS DOWN AGING. This is primarily a blog for women with PCOS. What does aging have to do with that? PCOS is a disease of inflammation, and inflammation is an aging process. If you stand back and look at the big picture, a lot of the symptoms of PCOS are actually indications of an accelerated aging process--arthritis, forgetfulness, poor sleep, diabetes at an early age, premature menopause--I am struck at how many of my clients really present as old people in young peoples' bodies. Just as there really is no cure for the wear and tear on the body of a car that works better than prevention, PCOS needs preventive action. It's about choosing food, activity and lifestyle behaviors that make it easier for your body to stay young. It IS possible to reverse some aging, but it's a whole lot easier to prevent aging before it happens. Making good antioxidant choices every day is an important part of your personal rustproofing plan (PRP).

3. DON'T JUDGE AN ANTIOXIDANT BY ITS SCRABBLE SCORE. This one drives me nuts. Nutritionists tend to be extremely detail oriented, and they seem to have adopted this compulsion to throw dozens of new long words at the public. I am equally as nerdy when it comes to biochemistry, but there is a place for those words. If seeing them in an article isn't inspiring you to put some new and different foods on your shopping list, what's the point?

I don't believe in dumbing down the public, but I have to admit, much of what I read has MY eyes glazing over because how the word was spelled or pronounced was apparently more important to the author than what's in it for me to care.

If you're adding a few beets at the salad bar or learning to cook Indian curries, that's what matters. The chemicals will help you to be healthier, whether or not you can spell or pronounce them.

4. THE BEST ANTIOXIDANTS ARE FOUND IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING. I graduated from college in 1982, and there were only a handful of antioxidants to learn about at the most. Back then (I guess you could say the nutritional dark ages!) we learned mostly about vitamins and minerals. Many of the compounds we knew about, were extracted and sold as"complete nutritional replacements". Of course, the definition of"complete" was based on our limited knowledge of what food actually contains. They weren't really complete because they did not contain the antioxidant compounds we didn't even know about!

That, for me, was a huge lesson learned, about how much of an expert I can truly be in this field. There will always be things I don't know, and need to know, and my responsibility as a health educator is to be as complete in talking about what I don't know as I do about what I do know.

Therefore, my advice when it comes to antioxidants and supplements, is not to focus on what the most important, most perfect antioxidant might be, then to extract it and consume it in large quantities. Rather, look for opportunities to eat whole foods that are as close to the ground and/or tree when you consume them. The more something is sliced, diced, extracted, powdered, concentrated, the less like nature it is.

Remember, whole is best. There may be important nutritional compounds we have yet to learn about that aren't in those expensive antioxidant supplements.

5. ANTIOXIDANTS ARE COLORFUL CHARACTERS. Your plate needs a variety of colors if it's also going to contain antioxidants. I created this graphic last summer to illustrate the concept. If you're eating lots of reds and blues, and are judicious about which white foods you choose, that's a good start. But remember the greens, yellows, and oranges, too! It's really not that hard to choose colorfully. A plate of food that contains a lot of colors is also attractive. Would you rather have a plate of white fish, cauliflower, and mashed potatoes, or a chicken salad packed with apples, walnuts, and spinach?

Eat patriotically--doesn't matter what country--if you put color on your plate, you can't go wrong.

6. ANTIOXIDANTS LOVE A GOOD PARTY! Antioxidants tend to be more effective in the presence of other antioxidants. In other words, you'll get more bang for your buck out of Compound A if you are also eating Compound B. That's why there is no such thing as the ultimate antioxidant. Just like you have less fun at a party if you act like a wallflower, your"health party" will be a whole lot more worthwhile if you introduce and mingle different compounds.

7. ANTIOXIDANTS LOVE THE GYM. Antioxidants have an interesting relationship with exercise. Exercise, because it raises metabolism, is actually an oxidative activity. However…when you exercise regularly, your body becomes more efficient at storing antioxidants for future use, and then mobilizing them to areas where exercise has raised your metabolism. To get the best advantage out of exercise, it's important to (1) not overexercise, but (2) exercise regularly, and (3) be sure the diet you eat on a regular basis is full of colorful foods.

8. ANTIOXIDANTS ARE HOMEBODIES. When fruits are picked early so they can be shipped to distant markets, they're not allowed to ripen and develop their fullest antioxidant potential. When fruits are processed so they can be stored and consumed through off-seasons, they lose antioxidant power. So while I love blueberries and I appreciate their antioxidant power, they are more of a summer treat for me. Since I live in Arizona, I try to eat lots of citrus in the winter, watermelon in the summer, and to use foods from other areas as occasional treats. Every locality has its specialties. Become familiar with what's in season in your area, and if you travel, experiment with local specialties. A Goji berry is definitely a powerful antioxidant tool, but you can be antioxidant friendly even if your plate was not partially picked by distant farmers on exotic hillsides. Some of your greatest antioxidant friends may be lurking just down the road at your local organic farm.

9. ANTIOXIDANTS SHOULD NOT BREAK YOUR BUDGET. When you eat seasonally, you should also save money. In fact, one of the easy way to know what fruits and vegetables are in season is to look for what is cheap! If you frequent your local farmer's market, what you see at the majority of the stands is likely the local seasonal offering. I like eating seasonally because foods move in and out of my menu and I don't get bored because I'm eating the same thing over and over again. Get to know how seasons affect food availability in your area, and plan menus around that. It is fun, not to mention tasty!

10. THE BEST ANTIOXIDANT OF ALL--IS A PROACTIVE LIFESTYLE. OK, here's a picture of an antioxidant. (A face only a molecule mother could love…) What it looks like isn't as important as what it does. An antioxidant keeps you healthy and young! Any choice you make that creates an imbalance--too much exercise and not enough rest, not enough sleep, an imbalanced diet, poor stress management--puts you at risk of antioxidant deficiency. If you're not making good lifestyle choices and assuming a supplement will absorb the imbalance, you're putting yourself at even greater risk. Be sure your diet has a lot of variety and color.

Even better, apply that mentality to the rest of your life.
--Create a social support network with a variety of personalities that encourage the best in you to come out, and who accept you for who you are without unrealistic expectations.
--Participate in a few different physical activities that allow muscles to rest while others work.
--Do things that make you laugh! (Yes, in a way, your favorite corny movie is an antioxidant!)
--Do something creative.

There are many kinds of antioxidants that have nothing to do with nutrition. Be sure your choices add up to move you in the direction of capitalizing on them, rather than putting you in a position where you need to supplement to reverse damage that didn't need to be done.

OK, good friend, I hope I answered your question and you made it to the end of this blog post without rolling those eyes again!

It's one of those really obvious things once you think about it, but feminine hygiene products are so much a part of a woman's life she may have overlooked this part of her hormone-friendly routine.

Monday, at noon EDT, on BlogTalk Radio we're going to be talking to Julia Bucciero of Maxim Hygiene about why you should pay more attention to the details of your pads and tampons.

Broadcast time is Eastern Daylight Time. If you cannot attend live, the recording/podcast will be available afterward at the same URL.

Some of the most intimate contact we have with manufactured products, comes through our use of tampons and pads. Yet, very little is taught to us about how to choose the products that best promote comfort, health, and environmental sustainability.

Julia Bucciero of Maxim Hygiene will be with us …to share how these concerns drove the creation of her company, as well as to teach us a little bit about using feminine hygiene products in a way that doesn't intefere with your goals of best managing your PCOS.

Maxim Hygiene products provide a Softer, Safer and Natural Alternative to Standard Conventional Feminine Hygiene Products with its dynamic line of organic and natural tampons, pads, and cosmetic accessories. Started by a father-daughter duo, Maxim Hygiene is a medium size family run company that believes in and supports quality products and services that offer true health and lifestyle benefits. Maxim Hygiene products use the beneficial qualities of organic and natural cotton to help address and resolve major health and environmental concerns associated with the use and production of conventional feminine hygiene products.

Company story: Maxim was developed after twenty-five years of manufacturing and distribution experience in the feminine hygiene industry, held by company Founder, Kenneth Alvandi. His extensive work on every angle of the business, values for producing quality products, and having three very special women in his life (his wife and two daughters), led him to his vision of taking his years of experience 'to the max' by creating safer and more natural products for women. Inspired by her father’s vision, Rebecca teamed up with Kenneth for Maxim’s official launch in 2008, and since then they've been working to change the face and feel of feminine hygiene with Maxim, a Soft, Safe and Natural alternative to conventional feminine hygiene products. As a father and daughter team, Kenneth and Rebecca combine Ken’s industry knowledge and Rebecca’s feminine perspective with their homegrown values for the Body, Earth and Health, to provide a range of natural lifestyle products to best suit personal hygienic needs. Kenneth and Rebecca, now joined by the rest of the Maxim Hygiene team, plan to make many more exciting advances in expanding the Maxim Hygiene product line under the Maxim Hygiene philosophy.
If you cannot attend live, be sure to find the recorded broadcast in our archives, you can listen to it on your computer or download it as a podcast!

So let's say you've landed on this website because you were doing a Google search at 3:30 in the morning.

Or because you're home from work and can't slow your head down enough to relax and enjoy a leisure activity…so you're surfing the Internet to distract yourself.

What's going on?

It could be a lot of things.

1. If your hormones are out of balance, as with PCOS, you may have excess levels of stress hormones such as cortisol that rise more easily than average, and take longer to normalize after a stressful day.

2. If you didn't sleep well last night and used caffeine and sugar to get through your day, you may be experiencing the aftermath of that.

3. If you over-exercised too late in the day, because it's only large amounts of exercise that help to calm your mind, it may have stressed you more than it relaxed you.

4. You may have a mood disorder (anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder).

How to know which is which? If you've made major changes in your lifestyle, corrected nutrition choices, worked to prioritize sleep, etc., and your head simply won't slow down, that's a huge red flag that something important lies beneath those behaviors. In fact, the imbalances you adopted, from eating sugar to drinking alcohol to relax, to marathon exercise sessions, may have helped you to"medicate" something more important going on in your nervous system.

Mood disorders are important not to ignore. They can be degenerative, which means, left unchecked, they can prematurely age the brain and nervous system. Your new lifestyle choices are incredibly important in slowing that process down, but you may find that additional help, such as a medication, can be tremendously useful as far as finally bringing you back into balance.

If you feel as though I'm describing you, you may be interested in another blog I write, about nutritional aspects of psychotropic medications. It goes into more detail about this specific topic, and I do post a lot of information about nutrition for brain and nervous system health.

Awhile ago I made an informal (that is, never scientifically tested) questionnaire. It's not intended to diagnose, but rather to get you thinking about what kinds of thinking patterns may be underlying how often and how intensely you experience stress. You may be blaming your racing head on your stress, but it may be that your racing head attracts you to situations and relationships that are stressful.

There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. But do consider, the more"yes" responses you give yourself, and the less your answers change in response to reasonable changes in diet, activity, sleep, and stress management, the more important it is to consider that you may have a mood disorder.

Are You A High energy Thinker? (Copyright 2000, www.afterthediet.com)

1. I am easily flustered.

2. I am easily drawn into a conflict.

3. I am very organized, and when my routine is disrupted, it can ruin my day.

4. I have a hard time with change, I would rather control thngs than let them take their natural course.

5. I can become so attached to a person, idea, or situation that I lose sight of the"big picture" perspective.

6. Staying focused on a task is a challenge; I am easily distracted/bored.

7. I can become obsessed with an activity. I ccan lose track of time because I get so absorbed.

8. People tell me I overanalyze things.

9. Peole tell me I am an adrenaline junkie.

10. I am a perfectionist.

11. I am very sensitive to criticism.

12. I worry a lot.

13. I procrastinate/can't finish projects I start.

14. I feel like I sabotage myself.

15. I have a way of saying or doing impulsive things that undermine relationships or which hurt my credibility.

16. I toss and turn a lot before falling asleep.

17. I can do a lot of things at once; in fact, it's easier thann doing one thing at a time.

18. I feel driven by some sort of internal machine.

PCOS can be devastating in so many ways, but it doesn't have to dictate life. In the midst of such an endocrine storm there can be hope and healing. I shared my story before of being a Registered Dietitian with PCOS. My struggle is not unlike others. I suffered through infertility and miscarriage which lead to severe depression; but by God's grace I overcame it. My sincere wish is to offer you a different perspective on PCOS, one with hope.

I see it time and time again with my patients. Women diagnosed with PCOS and their obsession to have a baby. It overtakes them. It overtook me. The desire and yearning to have a child envelopes one to the point where it controls life. If you've been through this, you understand what I am describing. Stress becomes a constant companion. You become crazed with counting days, planning relations at the exact time, to obsessing over blood levels. Shouldn't this whole baby-making-thing be fun?! I was so consumed with getting pregnant that my lifestyle became my roadblock to fertility. The stress was too much. I reached a point of total exhaustion, physically, emotionall, physically and financially. I was literally spent. Have you reached that wall? It was not until I came to the point of accepting my current status, that I was able to see things more clearly.

Our first son came miraculously. When you are told you will never conceive on your own, hope seems to disappear. But the great thing about hope is that it never dies. I conceived the old fashion way but had a pregnancy laden with complications. From gestational diabetes, to preterm labor, to my c-section incision reopening, and failure to breastfeed, I pretty much had most of the textbook complications. Thankfully, our son was born perfectly healthy and is turning 5 in a few days. Of course, the yearning for another child came shortly after and again the"wait" began.

I could feel the old obsession rearing its ugly head and I desperately did not want to live like that again. Miraculously, I met Monika Woolsey and the PCOS puzzle pieces fell into place. I changed my focus and began to dedicate myself to a healthier lifestyle. I purposed in my heart to become healthier so that when that perfect time came again, I was prepared to give my baby the best possible environment to grow in. Omega 3's are gifts from Heaven! My regimen became one of fish oil supplements, healthier way of eating and truly taking time to"smell the roses". I looked at exercise differently. I enjoyed doing it and it paid off! I lost 40 pounds and kept it off. A little over a year later, surprise! I found out I was pregnant; another miracle. Our second son is due in mid August and this pregnancy has been much healthier.

There is no quick fix or magic pill to guarentee a child. However, hold onto hope. There is always hope. My children are miracles. My oldest son because of being told I would never conceive on my own. I trust in a greater physician and He saw fit to bless me with a baby. My youngest son because we weren't sure if my husband could father any more children after having a kidney transplant in 2005. Again, God had different plans. Perhaps a perspective adjustment might be all you need. Never give up hope, it endures.

Marie Mariano RD, LDN, CDE
Hannah's Heart Ministries
p.o. box 3304
Boardman, OH 44513
hannahsheartministries@hotmail.com
330-717-5345

I am so excited about this! Over the years I have been meeting great small businesses offering thoughtful, spectacular products with potential to improve health. These companies consistently battle a series of small business woes, most especially how to consistently grow without having to jump from Mom and Pop status to major market presence and not lose their shirts. It frustrates me very much, watching how many searches for these products bring people to our blog, knowing that these people may have stopped searching with us because they got tired of clicking.
I wanted to create a bridge that brought these entrepreneurial types within reach of the enthusiastic customers who can help them grow and succeed.

So I've developed the inCYST eMarket, designed to help the best of the best to promote their products directly through us. You know, if it shows up in our store, it's been evaluated and fits with our mission, to support a lifestyle that is healthy for the planet AND its citizens. Most of the companies are small to medium sized, most were created with promoting better health as part of their mission, many are eventually going to be household names, if given a chance to brand and create a presence within the budget that their small business allows for. Many will be food products, but some will be personal care, others will focus on home and garden.

I envisioned, if I had the ability to bring my favorite business people together at my own market, who would be occupying the stalls. These people are pretty busy in their own worlds, wearing the multiple hats required in a startup endeavor, so this is a way for them to come together without having to leave their local operations.

That is where all of you come in. You're looking for great, healthy products. You're willing to spend money on them. You just don't know where to look. Or, you may know where to look, but aren't sure what you are seeing has validity. So we wanted to take the work out of it for you.

To encourage you to patronize our new store, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, we're going to allocate 100% of the profits earned by this store, to the new inCYST Research Institute. Thereafter, 20% of the profits will be allocated. I'm hoping that this will take care of the burden of the startup costs we're incurring, so that the majority of the money the fundraisers you all are organizing and participating in, can be directly devoted to research.

I love farmer's markets, and I envision this as being somewhat of an e-farmer's Market, specializing in valid hormone-friendly products we hope you are excited to try.

Starting tomorrow, for the rest of the week, we'll be posting information about each of the companies participating in our initial launch. This week we'll be featuring: Zing Bars, Ibitta, Arizona Mesquite Company, and Oila. We'll update you from time to time about new products and how they may be of interest to you.

If you can't wait until Monday for the detailed product information to start posting, feel free to check us out and browse around at this link!

We're excited to be able to involve our hard-working colleagues in the food, personal care, and design industries in our quest to make it easier for all of you to reap the benefits of an eco-hormone-friendly lifestyle.

Blood platelets are blood components that are important for blood clotting function. Platelet levels are very important to balance--if you don't have enough, you will have a difficult time stopping bleed from a cut or scrape. Too many, and you may have trouble with blood clots, which can block blood flow. Depending on where these blockages are, they can cause heart attacks, strokes, and thromboembolism.

Inflammatory diseases like PCOS are associated with changes in platelet function. In fact, women with PCOS do have problems with"sticky blood"--that is, blood that forms clots too easily. This aspect of PCOS is not weight dependent--you can have the same problem if you are lean as a woman who has weight to lose. Some of the changes in your clotting function are a function of the disease and likely would exist without any medical intervention. Other changes may be due to medications you are being prescribed. Birth control pills promote platelet activity, while metformin, decreases it.

Did you know that the same lifestyle choices inCYST promotes for weight loss, better fertility, healthier skin, and every other aspect of PCOS, is also good for healthier platelets?

1. Omega-3 fatty acids promote healthy blood clotting function. They also help to promote better melatonin balance. Melatonin is an important compound to platelets; it helps them to be less"sticky".

2. Physical activity improves circulation. Blood that is not moving is blood that has a tendency to coagulate. The more physically active you are, the less opportunity you have for platelets to collect and decide they should stick together.

3. As I just mentioned, melatonin is important to platelet function. If you're prioritizing sleep, you're giving melatonin a chance to do its job. Deprive yourself, and you give platelets the go-ahead to congregate. Melatonin is so important for platelet function, some researchers believe it may be a therapeutic supplement in people with heart disease, with similar functions to aspirin and Plavix. Who knew, a little bit of extra shut eye might be equally as powerful?*

*Any medication you have been prescribed for the purpose of altering how your blood flows and clots should not be discontinued without the consent of the physician who prescribed it. This could be a deadly choice. For anyone who is interested, I do have research I found describing some of the benefits of melatonin supplementation in heart disease. I'm happy to share it. Please share with your physician and discuss before making any changes.

If you're on any medication for blood thinning or platelet management, consider making some simple changes in your overall lifestyle that may have far-reaching benefit.

Luque-Ramírez M, Mendieta-Azcona C, del Rey Sánchez JM, Matíes M, Escobar-Morreale HF. Effects of an antiandrogenic oral contraceptive pill compared with metformin on blood coagulation tests and endothelial function in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome: influence of obesity and smoking. Eur J Endocrinol. 2009 Mar;160(3):469-80. Epub 2009 Jan 12.

Dereli D, Ozgen G, Buyukkececi F, Guney E, Yilmaz C. Platelet dysfunction in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome and association with insulin sensitivity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 May;88(5):2263-8.
Rajendran S, Willoughby SR, Chan WP, Liberts EA, Heresztyn T, Saha M, Marber MS, Norman RJ, Horowitz JD. Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with severe platelet and endothelial dysfunction in both obese and lean subjects. Atherosclerosis. 2009 Jun;204(2):509-14. Epub 2008 Sep 17.

Amowitz LL, Sobel BE. Cardiovascular consequences of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1999 Jun;28(2):439-58, viii.

Kebapcilar L, Taner CE, Kebapcilar AG, Sari I. High mean platelet volume, low-grade systemic coagulation and fibrinolytic activation are associated with androgen and insulin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2009 Aug;280(2):187-93. Epub 2008 Dec 24.

Hello UK friends!

Thanks to Twitter, I learned that your PCOS management is being directly affected by the medication shortage being experienced by the UK.

It must be stressful to feel like something you feel is essential is just beyond the grasp of your fingers. I'm very sorry to hear about this and I hope the situation resolves quickly.

My first thought on hearing about this dilemma was wondering what this kind of situation does to a woman's psyche--being told she has a certain diagnosis, that she needs to take medications for that diagnosis, and then being told she cannot get those medications. Likely dredges up the same kind of feelings you had if you've ever, on your PCOS journey, been told you're infertile. And…if you're not careful, some self-destructive ways to deal with the anxiety and frustration these kinds of situations have the potential to generate.

I hope, in those of you affected who are reading this, that you don't allow this situation to control you. In times like this, there can be a temptation to engage in behaviors (such as binge eating), to manage the stress. To feel like there is nothing you can do, so why bother? And those are exactly the times when you cannot let those feelings get the best of you.

This may actually be a time of opportunity for you, if you choose to frame the situation in that way! It can be your chance to revisit lifestyle changes and try some new things. Maybe tighten up the eating a bit, become more committed to regular activity. Focus on as many good things as you can do for yourself as possible. The name inCYST is a very intentional choice, as it encourages a more active involvement in your own well being. There is much more you can control than you can sometimes be told!

Of course, this blog is one resource. I also recommend www.pcoschallenge.com for emotional support and accountability.

Flutamide is not approved in the US because of toxicity concerns(for those of you unfamiliar with it, it is an androgen binder), so natural options for balancing androgens is something we're always looking to write about. Because it's never been a treatment option here, everything we write about on this blog is from the perspective of helping the woman who doesn't have access to that medication. So take some time and browse.

Lifestyle change is not the be-all-end-all solution. But it is an essential foundation. Take a few minutes and browse our archives. Find a new food to try. A reason to put the running shoes on. A coping technique that averts stress eating (if you haven't read Dr. HOUSE's post on how to avoid binge eating, now's the time!).

This press release comes from Sasha Ottey of PCOS Challenge. inCYST is always pleased to collaborate with and support her compassion and energy she devotes to women everywhere with PCOS! Best of luck with this project, Sasha!

New Reality Series Provides Renewed Hope and Needed Resources for Women with PCOS

As part of its continuing mission to provide information and support resources for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS Challenge, Inc. is producing a new 13-week reality series that focuses on improving the lives of women with PCOS with the help of health and medical experts. The goal of the PCOS Challenge™ television show is to educate, inspire and spread awareness about PCOS while helping women with the condition to live healthier and happier lives.

The women participating in the series will receive guidance from three main experts – a nutrition coach, fitness coach, and mental wellness coach. The women will also receive supplemental advice from other experts including a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and Reproductive Endocrinologist. As the participants compete in various fitness and healthy lifestyle challenges, they will have an opportunity to win cash and prizes.

“We are very excited to be launching the television show. It is a tremendous opportunity to help a lot of people. In the last year, the PCOS Challenge online and offline community has quickly grown to over 4,000 members, and this has been something that many people have been asking about for some time,” says Sasha Ottey, CEO of PCOS Challenge, Inc. “The television show is a natural extension of our popular PCOS Challenge Radio Show where we feature prominent PCOS experts. Now, through the television show, the audience will have an opportunity to see how to practically apply the information that they have learned in the face of daily life challenges and how to make sustainable healthy lifestyle choices.”

“Since its inception, PCOS Challenge, Inc. has been innovative in its programming and multimedia approach to spreading awareness and providing support for women with PCOS, which is one of the reasons the organization continues to gain traction so quickly and is able to keep people engaged,” says William R. Patterson, CEO of The Baron Solution Group and Executive Producer of the PCOS Challenge television show. “It is our aim to bring greater attention and resources to the PCOS community. With a condition that affects millions of lives and families worldwide, we feel the program will be an important vehicle to get more people involved.”

The PCOS Challenge television show is scheduled to begin shooting in mid-march and is currently casting for 6-10 women with PCOS in the DC metropolitan area to participate in the 13-week series. Participants will meet with the experts 1-2 times per week for the duration of the series and commit to changing their lifestyles to promote healthier living with PCOS. The PCOS Challenge television show will air on various local cable stations across the United States as well as stream online.

To become a participant, sponsor, or for more information about the PCOS Challenge television show, visit http://www.pcoschallenge.com/events/pcos-challenge.

About PCOS Challenge, Inc.

Sasha Ottey is Founder and CEO of PCOS Challenge, Inc. She is a Clinical and Research Microbiologist with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science from Howard University and a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. Her company, PCOS Challenge, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that provides support for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) through the PCOS Challenge Support and Social Networking Website (PCOSChallenge.com); PCOS Challenge nonprofit website (PCOSChallenge.org); PCOS Challenge Expert Series Workshops (PCOSChallenge.net); PCOS Challenge Television Show; PCOS Challenge Radio Show; and local offline support groups.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Infertility Program Puts Mother Nature Back Into The Equation

Phoenix, AZ and Marina del Rey, CA (August 19, 2008). Monika M. Woolsey, a registered dietitian, knows the story well. “Can you please help me? I failed fertility treatment, and I’m desperate for a baby, but I’m emotionally and financially exhausted.” She finally decided to do something about it. During ten years of specializing in infertility, she used her training in nutrition and exercise physiology to create a lifestyle program that naturally balances hormones. She’s trained a few dozen colleagues in the concept, and they’re confirming her findings—a few simple tweaks in diet and lifestyle can greatly enhance fertility.

Michele Gorman, MS, RD, LD, of Twin City Nutrition in Minneapolis, trained with Monika. “My client who was trying for over 2 1/2 years, tried in-vitro fertilization, and was working with one of the best reproductive medicine clinics in the city. She was sophisticated and well educated on treatments for fertility, however after 2 1/2 years she found herself depressed, exhausted and believing that she would never conceive. She never had any expectation that she would leave my office with a plan to promote ovulation, but that day we did exactly that and at her 5-week visit, she shared in tears that she was PREGNANT!”

The results from this program have been so profound that Gorman and Woolsey, along with dietitian Susan Dopart of Santa Monica, are now setting up their first research study to officially document their findings.

In the meantime, Woolsey has created a day spa, Fertile Intentions, for couples who would like to learn more about a natural option to try either as a first step or as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment. The first event will be Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Creative Chakra Spa in Marina del Rey. In addition to teaching the science and application of this program, this day spa will focus on emotionally supporting couples whose pursuit of familyhood has started to erode their relationship.

“The entire day is filled with information and experiences completely devoted to the COUPLE. And how that couple can live, relax, and communicate in ways that promote better balance all around. If the goal is to bring children into this world, as much as possible, I want those parents to be happy and excited, not completely exhausted when it finally comes to be,” says Woolsey.
For further information on Fertile Intentions Couples Day Spas, visit www.afterthediet.com/fertileintentions.htm

Contact:
Monika Woolsey, MS, RD
Fertile Intentions Couples Day Spas
www.afterthediet.com/fertileintentions.htm
marika@google.com
623-486-0737
###

Going to the doctor after some lab work and being told that you’re pre-diabetic is enough to cause a major freak-out in most patients. For some, though, it comes as no surprise, because they’re been on the edge of diabetes or pre-diabetes for a long time. Regardless of whether you were expecting it or not, it’s kind of scary. Visions of diabetics who have gone blind or had amputations may pop into your head. But you’re not there yet – and hopefully, never will be!
Getting scared can send you into a tailspin, or it can send you into ostrich mode, where you’re hiding your head in the sand. Or, you could express your distress, and then get into fighting mode. By getting proactive, you take some power back in a situation that feels kind of powerless (the numbers are just getting worse and worse, and it feels like you can’t control it).
How do you become proactive about addressing pre-diabetes?
· Take some time to absorb the diagnosis. · Do a little research on the subject, from reputable sources like the Mayo Clinic or WebMD. · Don’t spend too much time on chat boards; reading about symptoms of long-term poorly treated diabetes can be discouraging and fear-inducing. · Go back to your doctor armed with questions. · Ask your doctor for a blood glucose monitor, and learn how to use it. It’s simple, and typically free. What can be costly are the test strips. If you have insurance, they may be covered. If not, use the strips judiciously – but do you use them to periodically track on your blood sugars. That way you can see the impact of what you’re doing with your food and exercise. · Make a plan to step-up your exercise. This may mean getting help such as an accountability buddy, a walking group, a personal trainer, or physical therapy to fix the injury that’s keeping you from becoming active. Or you may need to join a gym, so that the weather is no longer an excuse. · Commit to reducing your intake of unhealthy carbs, processed foods, and most sugars. Get help from a dietician, a weight loss group, or tech gadgets like the FitBit so that you can monitor your progress. · Enlist the support of friends and family members in embracing a healthier lifestyle; you can do this alone, but it’s so much easier if you have cooperation and support. · Seek the services of a psychologist who can help you address poor self-care habits, lack of sleep that may be contributing to blood sugar increases, eating disordered behavior, or self-destructive behaviors and beliefs. · Go back to your doctor when you’re supposed to go back, and make sure you have your lab work done before you go, so that the appointment is productive. · Thoughtfully consider prescription medication such as metformin, the most common prescription for PCOS without diabetes or pre-diabetes. · Research selected supplements, such as chromium or cinnamon, and discuss them with your dietician and/or doctor. · Be patient, as lifestyle changes take time to implement. Results take time too, especially when you have PCOS.
Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D. is a Health Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles, California. She has completed the inCYST training. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders and chronic illnesses.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, or obtain referrals in the Los Angeles area, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com , or e-mail her at AskDrHouseMD@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askdrhousemd.

Just wanted to welcome Lesli Bitel-Koskela to the inCYST Network. She is a dietitian practicing in Long Grove, Illinois.

Lesli Koskela. RD, LDN is a registered dietitian/licensed nutritionist and the owner of the private practice and nutrition consulting business, Harmonic Nutrition & Wellness, LLC. She provides medical nutrition therapy and lifestyle coaching services to individuals, families and corporations with a focus on long-term behavior change.
In her work, Lesli takes a highly personalized, integrative and non-diet approach to designed to empower her clients in achieving a balanced and healthy relationship with eating and exercise.

Lesli uses a variety of nutrition intervention and coaching strategies designed to support her clients in meeting their goals. She is a certified food sensitivity and food allergy therapist, lifestyle and wellness coach, weight management specialist and mindful eating expert. Additionally, Lesli has earned an advanced certification in Weight Management in Children and Adolescents through The American Dietetic Association.

Lesli has been a registered dietitian for over twenty two years and draws upon a wide range of experience in several health care settings. She was a clinical dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago with an emphasis on corporate wellness, eating disorders, oncology & spinal cord injury nutrition and as a business director within the pharmaceutical industry.

I know Lesli and our other Chicago contact, Anna Ahlborn, have met to discuss how they can be of service to women in their area who could benefit from their expertise.

Please contact Lesli if you would like to start on an individualized nutrition program that can help you on the path toward better hormone balance…and feeling better!

Harmonic Nutrition and Wellness, LLC
847-381-5947

It's Earth Month 2011, a good time to think about our connection to things much bigger than ourselves. It's easy to become overwhelmed when thinking about a problem as daunting as infertility, and to narrow your focus down to what you need to do to fix your personal problem. Nothing else can seem to matter except your own hormones.

At inCYST, one of our most important missions is to help our readers understand, that the reason many people these days are struggling with infertility, is because our unsustainable lifestyle has changed the balance on our planet. The more respect with which we treat the earth, the better the earth treats us.

I was thinking about this yesterday while running on the canal trail behind my home. I've been waiting several weeks for the baby ducks to come and they finally arrived! My run is so much more enjoyable when I can watch the little fluffballs swimming behind their mother, learning how to swim, how to dive for food, how to preen. I never cease to be amazed at how these ducks just seem to know how to do what they do.

Something that biologists are learning is that other species are having trouble reproducing as well. We've put chemicals in the water they drink, we've put pesticides in the food chain, we've encroached on their breeding grounds…and they're paying a heavy price. The only difference is, they don't have reproductive doctors and nutritionists to guide them to better fertility. Their populations decline and we lose them.

So when I was admiring the fuzzballs I thought a lot about how inCYST is about more than helping all of you. Though that's important!

It's about rallying all of you to adopt lifestyle choices that benefit EVERYONE on the planet, no matter the genus, no matter the species. I hope that this is a value that gradually blends into your pursuit of personal health.

Speaking of sustainable living as a value, we had a wonderful radio chat yesterday with Julia Bucciero of Maxim Hygiene, makers of organic, all cotton, pesticide-free, chlorine and dioxin-free feminine hygiene and personal care products. If you had not thought about the opportunity for hormone imbalance your current personal care purchases poses, it's time you should.

And consider what unnecessary amount of plastic accumulates in landfills and floats down waterways when we make certain choices! You can make a hormone-friendly, 100% biodegradable choice and with that, make a difference.

Maxim Hygiene has created a product that makes personal sense for women with PCOS, and an opportunity for each of us to live more sustainably.

If you can't find these products in your local store, be sure to contact Maxim Hygiene and let them know. They're happy to work with stores to increase their product availability. I found them on amazon.com if you prefer to purchase them online.

It can help to feel less personally picked on when you take a step back and understand how a bigger imbalance may be affecting your personal imbalance. The best way out of that corner, is to collectively start making choices that promote balance outside, as well as within, ourselves.