I recently saw Sophie, a 38 year old woman, who came to see me to get help with the following problems:

  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Excess body weight
  • Fatigue

Sophie had been prescribed the oral contraceptive pill and the diabetes drug Metformin to treat the above problems but she was not having much success. She lost 8 pounds but still had around another 40 pounds she wanted to lose.

My patient did not actually need any contraception as she was not currently in a relationship. She had a typical Western diet and consumed around 200 grams of carbohydrate daily from bread, cereals, pasta and rice. She did not exercise regularly and was time poor as she had a very busy job with a lot of deadlines and stress.

I advised her to stop the contraceptive pill and the metformin and to use nutritional medicine instead.

My treatment program consisted of –

  • A lower carbohydrate eating plan with the exclusion of all grains, sugar and starches. The eating plan I asked her to follow is in my weight loss book.  I asked Sophie to increase the amount of protein and healthy fats she consumed. Suitable sources of protein include eggs, poultry, seafood, red meat (preferably pastured) and whey protein powder. Healthy fats include avocados, oily fish, olive oil, coconut oil and fat from pastured animals.
  • A cream containing natural bio-identical progesterone. This was to be used daily until the menstrual bleeding commenced; the cream was then stopped. Five days after the last day of bleeding the progesterone cream was to be started again. The cream was to be rubbed into the skin of the inner upper arm after a shower.
  • A supplement to help balance the blood sugar level and improve insulin resistance. The mineral chromium plus the herbs gymnema and bitter melon are very good for this and also for reducing cravings and hunger. They are combined together in Glicemic Balance capsules.
  • Sophie found it difficult to cope with stress. She told me she felt fragile and easily overwhelmed. Often she would eat snacks at her desk at work while feeling the stress and pressure of her demanding job. I gave her a magnesium supplement because magnesium is an excellent nerve and muscle relaxer.

Sophie came to see me 4 months after commencement of the above treatment. She was a very happy lady because –

  • She had lost 34 pounds in weight
  • Her menstrual period was now regular and was no longer heavy or painful
  • Her skin was clearer and her hair had stopped falling out
  • She felt happy and balanced in herself

Take home messages from this case history

  • Why take the oral contraceptive pill to treat hormonal imbalances? It only temporarily masks the problem.
  • Natural progesterone is an excellent treatment for many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, as they are usually deficient in this hormone.
  • A low carbohydrate eating plan is more effective than drugs for weight loss in women with PCOS.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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