WELLNESS AUTHOR
Dafne Villanueva
LIVING WITH PCOS n Austin women share their lifestyle
with PCOS and nutritionists answer questions for living your best life despite the condition.
What the Experts Say About PCOS
Dr. Danielle Desroche, an Atlanta-based women’s health and hormones specialist spoke about how PCOS affects one in every 10 women. “Many women begin to exhibit symptoms as teenagers, and
APRIL 2022
the standard treatment is to put them on the pill,” Desroche says. “PCOS is more than just an excess of androgens in women; it also includes issues with fertility, depression, anxiety, high cholesterol and disordered eating.” Desroche and San Antoniobased nutritionist Amber Fischer, CNS, LDN both recommend that women who need to change their workout routine because of PCOS do strength training to improve insulin resistance or exercises like pilates or yoga, which lower testosterone levels. Desroche highlights fiber being a crucial nutrient for those with PCOS as it helps regulate blood sugar, promotes bowel movement and lowers cholesterol. In addition, high-quality proteins, such as fish and chicken, as well as high-quality red meat, should be included on a plate’s protein portion. Healthy fats are also required in the form of
52
DR. DANIELLE DESROCHE
MADISON CROWLEY
P
olycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects more than 200,000 women in the U.S. a year, yet many know little about the condition. PCOS is a chronic hormonal condition in which the ovaries produce excessive androgens — male sex hormones, which are generally present in small amounts in women. While birth control is a treatment for PCOS, the disorder also requires many lifestyle changes for women to be healthy and safe in their bodies.
avocados, olive oil and fatty fish. “The goal is to eliminate inflammatory foods,” Desroche says. When indulging in foods that are not the best for those with PCOS, Fischer says that simple starches like sugar and white bread or pasta are the most important foods to cut back on.
