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3/2/2020 PCOS: Maybe She’s Born With It PCOS is a medical condition that affects hormone levels in women, impacting 5%–20% of women of reproductive age worldwide and characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Women with PCO end up producing a higher amount of male hormones, like testosterone, and often experiencing resistance to the metabolic hormone, insulin. These imbalances can lead to issues with acne, and missed menstrual periods (impacting fertility), amongst other symptoms. The 2003 Rotterdam criteria are currently the internationally accepted criteria by which PCOS is diagnosed.
However, the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is poorly understood. Part of the research conducted on the origination of the disease has shown that the likelihood of PCOS development in women may be determined at birth. Research in primates suggests that excess fetal androgen exposure may predispose the infant to later development of PCOS through alternations in the epigenome (1). If there is an imbalance of hormones from PCOS during pregnancy, then there is an increased likelihood the baby may also develop PCOS if the infant is born female. Additionally, exposure to testosterone prior to pregnancy could lead to PCOS even when women have children later.  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading medical conditions now impacting women of reproductive age, and can also have substantial impacts on a woman’s physical and emotional well-being. We’ve already covered symptoms and diagnostic testing of PCOS here, but let's dive deeper into one key hormonal disruption that seems to be particularly troublesome for my patient population – hyperandrogenism.
Hyperandrogenism is common in PCOS, often seen as elevated testosterone and DHEA levels on blood work. And while these two hormones are often seen as synonymous when evaluating total androgenic burden, there is a significant difference between the two. Testosterone and DHEA are both classified as androgenic hormones, however some women with PCOS may have elevated testosterone, with normal DHEA levels, and vice versa. You also don't have to have cysts on your ovaries to present with hyperandrogenism (in fact, only about 20% of women with high androgens have cystic ovaries), and cysts on your ovaries don't always mean you’ll have high androgens. Have I lost you yet?  One of the core principles of functional medicine is to nourish the body and ensure it is getting the appropriate balance of nutrients to stay healthy. Traditionally, this was achieved in a hunter-gather diet by eating colourful whole foods and by practicing “nose-to-tail” eating of meat, which included the consumption of skin, cartilage, marrow, tendons/ligaments, and other parts of the animal that are now typically discarded. Unfortunately, much of this practice has been lost as a result of prepared meats, microwaves, and canned soups over homemade stocks. As a result, our diets have become deprived of an important protein, known as collagen.
There is a lot of noise in the health industry lately about collagen supplementation. The concept of supplementing collagen attempts to regain what we’ve lost from our primitive diet, but the question becomes if supplementation has any benefit. Benefits of Collagen I’ll admit that when I first heard about the trend of supplementing collagen, I wasn't on board. It made no sense to me. Collagen is a tissue found in our bodies made from amino acids, vitamin C, etc. So how could supplementingthe end product collagen benefit us? But as it turns out, research in mice shows that hydrolyzed collagen peptides (from gelatin) have a 95% absorption rate at 12 hours after intake, and it distributes in the body similar to that of raw amino acids, with the exception of cartilage (1). Collagen was seen to concentrate more than twice as high in cartilaginous tissue that raw amino acids (1), giving collagen some unique benefits. So, I jumped on the bandwagon. 15/9/2018 How to Make your Own Bone Broth Soup Bone broth is a rich source of nutrients. It contains protein, cartilage, gelatin, and minerals, especially calcium. It’s easy for our body to digest, tastes delicious and fills a home with an aroma of goodness while cooking. Bone broth is inherently calming, consoling, and restorative to our energy and spirit. The gelatin in bone broth also has been shown to have numerous benefits on the cartilage in our joints, the integrity of our gut membrane, the detoxification of our livers, and the health of our skin!
BASIC BONE BROTH MAKING
 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal health issues in women, affecting an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Many women are first diagnosed when they are having difficulty trying to conceive, but PCOS presents with many other symptoms, like hair loss, acne, hirsutism, and weight gain. These symptoms can affect a woman's health even beyond trying to get pregnant.
What Causes PCOS? The exact cause of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is unknown, though it is thought that genetics play a major role. PCOS is a complex disorder that presents itself as a group of symptoms resulting from hormonal imbalances -- usually an excess of androgens like testosterone and high levels of insulin. These symptoms include:  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes significant imbalances to the hormonal system in many women today. One of the biggest concerns with PCOS is that it is widely under-diagnosed. Just in the United States alone, there are approximately 7 million women experiencing symptoms of this condition, yet around half of these women have no idea they have PCOS!
For a long time, the root cause to PCOS was believed to be a result of an overproduction of male hormones, called androgens. In more recent years, research has confirmed PCOS is in fact a condition resulting from desensitization to insulin production within the body, which in turn leads to increased production of these androgenic hormones. In addition, studies on PCOS have revealed those with the condition are at a greater risk for heart disease and diabetes (type 2). Heart disease is the leading killer in women. Even in cases where women were young and fit, yet had PCOS, it was five times more likely they would still develop these risks if they did not seek treatment for their conditions. In recent years, interest surrounding food sensitivities and their role in day-to-day wellbeing has increased. From gluten and dairy to soy and nuts, all one has to do is read the back of food labels or the finer details on restaurant’s menus to see a wide range of potential food sensitivities. What seems most difficult for individuals suffering from suspected sensitivities is the identification of the attributing food, as reactions are often delayed and inconsistent. Part of the reason for the increase in food sensitivities may be contributed to the larger number of processed foods people consume today. In addition, many types of processed foods lack the nutrients the body needs for energy production and what little the body does get, is often used by the immune system to repair the damage and heal. As such, the body is not able to digest processed foods as effectively and efficiency. This can lead to a loss in energy, as well as other gastro-intestinal problems. Symptoms of Food Sensitivities There are several signs you might have a food sensitivity including: • Feeling Lethargic • Problems Concentrating on Tasks • Aches and Pains in the Muscles and Joints • Headaches • Unexplained Rashes, Dermatitis, or Acne • Stomach and Intestinal Cramping and Pain • Excessive Gas • A Bloated Feeling Unlike food allergies, which present themselves almost immediately, food sensitivities can take much longer before exhibiting symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may not appear until a few days later, making it harder to narrow down the actual cause of the sensitivity, considering the amount of food a person consumes in a 48-hour period. Triggers for Food Sensitivities There are several common foods and food ingredients that have been associated with food sensitivities. These “trigger” foods can and do vary from one person to the next, but generally speaking, these foods are all inflammatory in nature, compromising the integrity of the gut lining and its ability to decipher between foods, chemicals, pathogens, and so on. • Preservatives Added to Processed Foods (Nitrates, MSG, Artificial Colours, Sulfites) • Certain Nuts • Gluten • Eggs • Soy • Dairy • Corn Identifying and Treating Food Sensitivities One of the more effective methods used to help identify food sensitivities is making changes to your diet. This begins by keeping a journal of the foods you are eating, energy levels, and other symptoms you experience afterwards. During this time, the more common food “triggers” are typically eliminated from the diet. After about a month, the common foods are reintroduced, one at a time over a short period of time. If a noticeable change in energy levels or other symptoms reemerge, then the food is most likely the cause. While the process can seem time consuming, the primary benefit of taking this approach is to help people restore their energy and eliminate related symptoms. An alternative to this approach is food sensitivity testing. The results identify levels of inflammation to each individual food, helping to eliminate the guesswork in which foods may be provoking inflammation, and ultimately, your symptoms. Its important to recognize that while food sensitivity testing is very accurate, it is simply assessing inflammation resulting from individual foods, and results must be put into clinical context to evaluate if they are in fact attributing to your reported symptoms. It is also important to stress that there could be other factors at work beyond food sensitivities, so it is vital to ensure a qualified Naturopathic Doctor performs a full workup to rule out other potential causes. If you believe you have sensitivities to certain foods, book an appointment for a full health assessment with Dr. Courtney Holmberg, ND at her naturopathic clinic in Toronto by calling 647.351.7282 today! 4/8/2016 The Road to Acne Free Skin  Our skin provides us with a wonderful reflection of what’s occurring below its surface. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not a result of improper facial hygiene. It typically presents itself as the unfortunate indicator that there's an internal problem. And while most reach for the latest and greatest topical products that promise results, many forget to ask the important question of "why is this happening in the first place?"
The root to acne formation is centered on the oil gland, known as the sebaceous gland. Hormonal changes, inflammatory foods, disrupted skin pH, etc. can lead to changes in the quality and amount of sebum produced, creating low level inflammation. This inflammation can plug the follicle, creating little papule-like lesions called closed comedones. Bacteria see these comedones as honeymoon destinations, and the more overgrown with bacteria these blocked follicles become, the larger and more cystic the resulting "pimple". If the cyst ruptures below the dermis, the lesions last a lot longer and are more likely to trigger scarring. So how do we manage it? Since lesions are most commonly the result of oxidative damage and hormonal imbalances, the trick is to work from the inside out. |
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