Lara Briden - The Period Revolutionary
Leading the change to better periods and hormones
The role of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in common menstrual problems such as PCOS, heavy periods, and perimenopause. Hyperinsulinemia or high insulin can impair ovulation and increase androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome. It can also cause progesterone deficiency, anovulatory cycles, and increase the thickness of the uterine lining contributing to heavy periods.
Phytoestrogens are a special group of phytonutrients that occur naturally in most plant foods. The two major classes are isoflavones in soy and lignans in seeds, whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
They’re called phytoestrogens because they interact with estrogen receptors, but they’re not estrogen. In fact, they bind so weakly to estrogen receptors that they effectively block estradiol and are more accurately characterized as anti-estrogen.
Hormonal birth control can negatively affect metabolic health and contribute to weight gain. Some types are more likely to do so than others, depending on the type of progestin.
But before we get to the question of “which progestin,” I’ll just point out that the biggest problem with hormonal birth control is that it (usually) switches off hormones.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not one disease. Instead, it’s “a heterogeneous disorder with different underlying biological mechanisms.” In other words, PCOS is a collection of symptoms—primarily androgen excess and anovulatory cycles—caused by different underlying mechanisms or drivers.
To effectively treat PCOS, you need to identify which mechanism (or combination of mechanisms) is driving your symptoms.
That’s why it’s helpful to identify your functional type of PCOS. These include:
In women’s health, magnesium is the “Swiss Army knife” of nutrients—beneficial for everything from period pain to PCOS and PMS. It’s also a powerhouse for perimenopause, and here’s why.