The relationship between PCOS and insulin resistance is complex. Explore how an excess of certain foods can lead to hormonal imbalances and pave the way for this common condition. Discover the potential of epi-genetics and lifestyle changes in managing PCOS.

Key takeaways

• Insulin and androgen imbalance is the primary cause of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
• Excessive consumption of carbohydrates can lead to elevated insulin levels.
• Epi-genetics plays a crucial role in PCOS, with lifestyle and environmental factors impacting gene expression.
• Lifestyle changes can potentially reverse epi-genetic changes and manage PCOS symptoms.
• Vively, a metabolic health app, can help women with PCOS improve their glucose control.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects many women worldwide, is primarily triggered by hormonal imbalances. The puzzle of PCOS with insulin resistance can be solved by understanding the domino effect initiated by this hormonal imbalance.

PCOS and hormones

PCOS is a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries function, and it's closely linked to hormonal imbalances. Three key hormones are involved in PCOS: insulin, androgens, and progesterone.

• Insulin: a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows cells in the body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the diet for energy or to store for future use. Insulin helps keep your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia). Women with PCOS often have insulin resistance, meaning that their cells do not respond well to insulin, and as a result, their bodies produce more insulin to compensate.
• Androgens: often referred to as male hormones, but they are present in both males and females. Women with PCOS tend to have higher levels of androgens, which can interfere with the development and release of eggs during ovulation and may cause symptoms such as excess body hair.
• Progesterone: some women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, which means they do not produce the hormone progesterone as they should. Progesterone is necessary to regulate the menstrual cycle, and without it, irregular periods can occur.

What causes hormonal imbalances?

It's believed that elevated insulin levels in the body cause the ovaries to behave abnormally, triggering excessive production of androgens. This hormonal upheaval is often driven by our dietary habits, particularly our carbohydrate consumption.

Carbohydrates, found in foods like bread, fruits, cakes, rice, and pasta, are broken down into glucose (sugar) in our bodies. This glucose is absorbed into our bloodstream. A surge in blood glucose after a meal prompts the pancreas to increase its insulin production.

Insulin acts as a gatekeeper, helping glucose to enter our cells, where it is used as fuel for energy production. However, when we consume an excess of carbohydrates, we get high blood sugar levels, which leads to an overproduction of insulin.

An occasional indulgence in carbohydrate-rich foods might not pose a significant risk, as our body can adapt. However, a consistent pattern of overconsumption can result in chronically elevated insulin levels and reduced sensitivity to insulin.

Epi-genetics and PCOS

Groundbreaking research from Harvard Medical School has highlighted the role of epi-genetics in PCOS and insulin resistance. Epi-genetics is the study of how lifestyle choices and environmental factors, like diet, smoking, alcohol, sleep, toxins, stress, and social health, influence gene expression. It's important to note that epi-genetics doesn't involve changes to the genes themselves, but rather how these genes express themselves. Remarkably, epi-genetic changes are entirely reversible.

The discovery of epi-genetics was a total game changer for lifestyle medicine. It essentially means that even if you have a gene, this does not necessarily dictate that you will get the illness. It is how you live, what choices you make, and all the other things we bang on about as health care professionals that will determine your health.

The importance of lifestyle choices in managing PCOS is supported by this epi-genetics research. It empowers healthcare professionals and patients to take proactive steps towards better health. Diet, physical activity, sleep hygiene, and stress management are not just buzzwords; they're the keys to altering gene expression and potentially reversing PCOS symptoms.

Vively is a powerful tool that can support this lifestyle transformation. By helping to manage glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity via continuous glucose monitoring and lifestyle education, it's an invaluable companion for those living with PCOS.