PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a disorder present among the females of the reproductive age group. It is basically a lifestyle disorder presenting clinical conditions of:

• Hirsutism or excess facial hair
• Oligomenorrhea or infrequent menstrual periods
• Infertility
• Weight gain
• Insulin resistance (Diabetes)

Experts claim that in India, approximately 10% of the females are affected by PCOS. These days PCOS has become so common, that it is not astonishing to find women taking pills and trying different diets to keep PCOS under control. The best remedy for PCOS is to add natural ingredients to your daily diet.

Let’s have a look at how kitchen herbs and spices can make the life of all the females with PCOS easier:

Fenugreek Seeds:

These tiny seeds are one of the most effective remedies for PCOS. Fenugreek seeds contain special compounds that help in normalizing menstrual cycle. It reduces ovarian cysts and increases a woman’s chance of fertility or pregnancy.

Women with PCOS often have high levels of insulin. Insulin causes the ovaries to produce more male sex hormones, which causes irregular menstrual cycle and worsens the overall condition. A regular consumption of fenugreek seeds reduces insulin resistance, reduces the risk of diabetes mellitus and corrects menstrual irregularities.

Soak 5-6 fenugreek seeds overnight. On an empty stomach in the morning, discard its water and chew them well.

Cinnamon:

This aromatic spice improves menstrual cyclicity and it an effective treatment for women with PCOS. Along with a healthy and well-balanced diet, intake of cinnamon decreases insulin resistance and further reduces excess production of male sex hormones in females.

An interesting study found that women with PCOS who consumed cinnamon regularly for 6 months had regular menstrual periods as compared to women who did not consume cinnamon.

Add 1//4 teaspoon cinnamon powder to warm water and drink it twice a day on an empty stomach or sprinkle powdered cinnamon on apple or pear.

Holy Basil Or Tulsi:

Women with PCOS have acne and excess facial hair due to the overproduction of male sex hormones. Tulsi is an excellent agent that helps in reducing the male sex hormones in females with PCOS.

Oxidative stress is a potential factor in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Tulsi is a great antioxidant agent that fights oxidative stress and protects the body against its harmful effects.

The best way to take tulsi is to chew 7-8 tulsi leaves daily.

Flaxseeds:

Flaxseeds help in maintaining hormonal balance and they reduce the clinical symptoms of PCOS , such as, excess facial hair. Flaxseeds contain ‘lignan’, a compound that binds to male sex hormones and causes its excretion among women with PCOS.

These seeds further help in weight loss, which helps in bringing your menses back on track and improves the overall condition.

You can take 2 teaspoons of roasted flaxseeds on an empty stomach in the morning. Chew them well and drink a glass of water.

Note: As flaxseeds are high in fiber, it is important to increase your water intake all throughout the day.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110569016301510

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615243/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3813238/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24813595

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01483118

http://www.florajournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue2/PartB/5-6-30-753.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2752973/

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