Vitamin Deficiencies and PCOS

Are you getting the right nutrients?

Happy New Year All!!!!

As we gear up into the new year and all of our resolutions, one thing that is important to remember is are you doing and getting all you need to perform at your best? I’m not going to lie, 2018 was a long hard year on my body. I was diagnosed with Diabetes on top of tackling PCOS, which brought on an entire different series of issues. However, what I didn’t realize is that part of why it was sooooo difficult to manage both is because of me not tackling other areas of PCOS, specifically with supplements and vitamins. As much as I thought I knew everything about what I was doing, one area I never considered was if I was taking in enough vitamins.

What truly brought this curiosity on was my hair thinning and falling out all over my body. At first, I thought it was a symptom of being newly diabetes solely (and it is one side effect of many associated with diabetes), but then after doing some further research, I realized that some of what I was experiencing was directly correlated with having PCOS and beyond. As a woman in general, as we age, our bodies needs change as well….and so imagine being a woman with PCOS. Taking a multivitamin just isn’t enough, I had been doing that. However, I needed much more to start experiencing a new normal again.

Vitamins, minerals, and proper nutrition matter always, but especially for women suffering from hormonal imbalances. So as I did my research, I found the top vitamin deficiencies women with PCOS suffer from and need to start including in their daily routine:

• The B Vitamins (ALL OF THEM) play an essential role in PCOS maintenance. B2 processes, fat, sugar, and turns it into energy in the body (which helps with chronic fatigue). B3 which releases into the blood to keep sugars balanced when they rise. B5 controls the metabolism and aids with weight-loss. B6 maintains hormone balance and along with B2 and B3 promotes the health of the thyroid (which hypothryoidism is usually another condition many women with PCOS suffer with). B7 which is BIOTIN helps with hair, skin, nails, and for lowering triglycerides and glucose levels in diabetics (winner).
• Vitamin D – people of color tend to be deficient with Vitamin D but its even more reduced in women with PCOS. Vitamin D is one of the most essential vitamins needed to combat PCOS and assists in fertility issues, endometrial issues, and ovarian health.
• Iodine – yep you need salt!!! Crazy enough the lack of too much of it can lead to fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold all the time and thinning hair. I recently cut salt almost out but realized I needed to add a little back. Eggs are also an amazing source for it.
• Folate – or B9 which is one I wouldn’t think of but is the reason I decided to start taking prenatal vitamins to help supplement this.
• Fat Soluble Vitamins such as Vitamin A, K, and E (D was mentioned earlier and plays such an important role in PCOS).
• Chromium – which enhances the function of insulin
• Chaste Tree Berry – stimulates progesterone and assists in balancing hormones and assists to control acne, cysts, and other issues.
• Saw Palmetto – this assist with DHT which is the main culprit behind rising testosterone levels with PCOS. DHT can cause PCOS symptoms like hair loss, facial hair growth, acne, and menstrual irregularities. Inhibiting this conversion of testosterone to DHT can help reduce the intensity of PCOS symptoms. 
• Magnesium – Most women should be taking this for overall health. Magnesium deficiences have been high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, and other serious concerns. Taking magnesium can help reduce these risks while also improving energy, mood, hormone balance, bowel regularity, and more.

I was shocked to see that I hadn’t really been taking in enough of any nutrients and was not taking some at all. Needless to say, 2019 will be handled differently, as my mission this year is to rid myself of Diabetes once and for all. In an effort to learn more, last year I signed on to be an official ambassador for PCOSAA. This year they are launching the inaguaral PCOSCon focused on educating, uplifting, and equipping women with the tools they need to manage PCOS. I couldn’t be more excited. Tickets are on sale now and if you enjoyed this blog post, then you have to be in the Washington D.C. area this September. For more information follow this link: https://www.pcoscon.org/

I hope you enjoyed this first post of the new year!!! Let’s Make 2019 Great!

Sincerely,

LoLo