PCOS and raw foods?

[Livingsunfoods]

Hey, my friend recently started eating raw and decided to jump head first but because of her condition with PCOS she's come up on some difficulty. It's been hard for her to lose weight with the insulin resistance too. She is also bloated all the time, even when drinking water. Initially she was doing all raw and then one day she ate a piece of watermelon and got lightheaded and had to go to the doctor. Of course they don't know what's going on and are still doing tests. I encouraged her to take it slow because of her condition and to ease into it. I recommend the daily green smoothies to prepare her body and to keep a little bit of cooked (she said she is eating quinoa and brown rice) for the time being. I thought that maybe it was her body detoxing and that the sugar from the watermelon could be too much for her, so I recommended adding nuts with the fruit to slow down the amount released in the bloodstream.

Anyone else out there that had or has this condition? Any suggestions? I know she is so excited about eating raw and any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[tanishamarshall]

I have PCOS, and since going raw I haven't had any problems with my menstrual cycle. I started drinking 2 - 16 oz glass of green smoothies a day. I am not sure if she is a meat eater but she must stay away from meat especially non-organic as it will knock her body off track even more, even just a slip up can bring pain at least for me it did.

Also Insulin resistance goes along with PCOS so the watermelon probably set that off. I would say stick to green smoothies and most vegetable based raw recipes, I think it will be fine if she sticks with some cooked vegan as I did this in the beginning and I was fine with it, my menstrual cycle started to become regular.

Now I must say everyones body is different so what worked for me may not work for her, but it's worth a try.

Oh before I forget I started using spirilina(sp?) and E-3 Renew me, I put that in my green smoothies.

I also have a thread that I started about PCOS, I will try to find the link and post it here.

I hope this helps.
Tanisha

[tanishamarshall]

Here is the thread I started regarding PCOS

[Livingsunfoods]

Hey docsharp thanks for the help! Could you post the link to the discussion again, it doesn't seem to be here. :D

[tanishamarshall]

Sorry about that, here it is.

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=31025&highlight=pcos

[VegByrd]

I found this thread while doing a little research on PCOS and raw food diets.

I was sent to a "fertility specialist" by my gyn. after she saw some elevated hormone levels in a routine blood test and said she thought I might have PCOS. I was a little surprised that she would cart me off to a fertility doctor so quickly, being that I hadn't been trying to get pregnant for very long at all.

I'm a little hesitant because I have a feeling the specialist is just going to want to give me fertility drugs so my cycles can get regulated (I've always had really irregular cycles); but I would much rather try to get balanced naturally if I can (which I'm sure you all do, too!).

My aunt, who is really into herbal medicine, sent me these websites:

http://www.biogetica.com/?gclid=CNLClrnw7Z8CFZ8N5QodHUvRIg

http://www.womentowomen.com

Maybe these can help you girls, too?

[askcassyfirst]

Raw foods were a key part of my healing from PCOS.

I started my journey over ten years ago and experimented with various nutritional & alternative methods to manage my condition naturally. I used regular cleansing and detoxification, cardiovascular exercise, strength training, dietary supplements, (including Botanical, EFAs & Vitamin D) Chinese Medicine and Accupuncture along with a topic application of bioidentical progesterone hormone.

I discovered the raw foods lifestyle in 2003 and have become a huge advocate of the high raw lifestyle. (You'll note that I initially joined RFT in 2004.) Thanks Alissa for your amazing help along the way! :)

In 2007 I conceived and in 2008 gave birth to my wonderful healthy son. I believe the cleansing affect of raw was a HUGE player in why my body was able to have a healthy pregnancy.

Feel free to read my website and blog for more details on how I overcame my PCOS. Keep in mind, I suggest this not because I am not fishing for clients...Due to my toddler son, private life, and full time job with Enzymedica, I am not offering PCOS coaching at this time. But I keep the site up for the countless visitors who come each day to read about how it is possible to manage, overcome, and thrive despite this devastating diagnosis.

Here's a direct link to my PCOS section on my website: http://askcassyfirst.com/blog/?page_id=79

Further, since my son was born my bleeds are like clockwork and my skin has maintained its clarity. I no longer need the bioidentical hormones (I used Pro-Gest by Emerita) and generally speaking my PMS is mild. I found my balance in high raw and the cleansing lifestyle. I'll never go back. :)

Best,
Cassy

[punpkin]

I was diagnosed with PCOS about three years ago. I am not currently trying to get pregnant and am therefore not seeing a doctor about this. What I am doing is eating raw foods, exercising and trying to get and keep my weight down. I am not sure if my method is the best way, but I am putting my faith in Raw Foods and that alone. Results wise, I no longer have near the pain I used to have- from that whole section (uterus, ovaries). I was really high raw for about four months and have been 100% for the last four months or so. I had two really bad periods, one really light one and one barely there one. But they have regulated, which is a big deal for me. I am assuming and believing that by continuing with raw foods, I will no longer have a body that will maintain illnesses like this. Also, I'm 39 and am also putting my faith in raw foods and God that I will be able to have a baby at some point.:)
P.S. Those errant hairs on my chin have also dissapeared, thank God!

[tanishamarshall]

Great to hear your story Casey. Love hearing about other PCOS success stories. Not long after I started eating raw I began having a regular menstrual cycle and I still have a regular cycle now, and no Pain... I have been thinking about including Vitamin D, I need to find a good source for that.

[askcassyfirst]

You can get vegetarian sourced Vitamin D. Just ask at your local HFS.

Of course, you can also learn to love the sun, which helps too.

Success!

-Cassy

[Dittiss]

I am new to this forum but I just found it through searching for more info on pcos and raw food nutrition. I was told back in November that I "might" have pcos. Prior to this I had decided to go off birth control in an attempt to get back to a more natural way of living. Six months after quitting the pill I still had not had a period so I went to the doc. At first her only solution was to put me back on birth control to "regulate" my period, but I told her I thought it was part of the problem and there was no way I would do that. She tried to assure me over and over that "the pill had NOTHING to do with this," yeah right! Her other solution was to perscribe me a hormone, which started with a P, that was supposed to mimmick a period and hopefully "kickstart" my period, as she put it. I was not into this idea AT ALL.

Then I found a really helpful testimony from a vlogger and raw foodist, Natasha St. Michael, about curing her polycystic ovary syndrome through raw foods. Here is the link if anyone is interested in checking it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDp0uc6C63o and since then I have been watching this and MANY other great raw food blogs everyday and altering my diet. I am currently high-raw and whole foods. I still eat meat on occasion, but only hormone-free and grass-fed, free-range meats, and I still eat eggs...also only organic fruits and veggies. After being on this type of diet for about 3 months, I finally had a period!! So now...I have been really looking further into the raw food diet, but I am still in need of community and support. I am still not there yet, but I am really happy to have found this community, and especially others who have been through what I am going through! So, thank you!!

[tanishamarshall]

Hi Dittiss,

Happy to hear that you have finally gotten your monthly cycle. Raw has worked wonders for me, happy to see another person find healing. I believe once we get on the path of better eating it will help us conceive.

Wishing you the best on your journey.

Tanisha

[MilitaryWife]

I am 23 and Have Pcos. I am 5'4 and 285 lbs. I have tried Everything And I have to admit and have become a bit of a skeptic on Online things. I am also at a Point I have to say whats there to loose. Does this Eating Raw Really Work? I Have heard of one recipe that Includes:

Strawberries
Spinach
Basil
and Lemon.
and of course enough water to make it smooth.

Is that a good Recipe? Ive also heard you can Switch The Fruit with Other Fruits.

Please Help I am so Desperate. Also Does anyone know of a Popular Website where Women get together to Support and Help each Other? I cant Find anything.

Thanks so much

Leah

[DawnD]

I haven't read all of the posts here but I wish all of you the best that raw can bring in healing and conceiving for those who have that goal.

My success story is my daughter healing with raw food. She was diagnosed with PCOS a couple years ago and told that she would probably need meds to conceive. She lived with me just after we started the raw diet so she joined in and loved it. She lost 30 pounds and felt wonderful. She got married back in September and they didn't use birth control because she couldn't conceive anyway right??? Well...she is 4 months pregnant and everything is progressing fine! I had no idea that she wasnt using any method of BC. I did tell her "Duh, you healed your body with raw food so there was no reason you could not conceive". I am a very happy grandma-to-be.

She ate smoothies with almond milk, hemp and fruits, lots of salads, nut pates with vege sides dishes etc. Not a fan of green smoothies.

[Crarotgirl]

I am 23 and Have Pcos. I am 5'4 and 285 lbs. I have tried Everything And I have to admit and have become a bit of a skeptic on Online things. I am also at a Point I have to say whats there to loose. Does this Eating Raw Really Work? I Have heard of one recipe that Includes:

Strawberries
Spinach
Basil
and Lemon.
and of course enough water to make it smooth.

Is that a good Recipe? Ive also heard you can Switch The Fruit with Other Fruits.

Please Help I am so Desperate. Also Does anyone know of a Popular Website where Women get together to Support and Help each Other? I cant Find anything.

Thanks so much

Leah
Hi I
Have known to have pco since my 30, now in my forty, I have gain 20 pound in one year.
I am on metformin since 3 weeks and have lost 6 pounds. I became pregnant after lossing a few pounds in my 30, plus the help of akupunktur. I was in size 6 to 8 for years
Take care and check if metformin is for you.
Good luck

[punpkin]

Little update- last I wrote, I was eight months or so into raw foods. Now it has been about 2 and 1/2 years, no baby, but I have a period every month, not quite like clockwork, but around days 30-35, which, for those with PCOS, is a lot better than once every six or eight months. Some of my periods are still rather painful, but at least they are here. Again, still hopin for a pregnancy- am going to doctor in January to see if PCOS has completely cleared up or what, because if so, where's my little bambino? ;)

[Erin222]

Hi! I am looking for any advice regarding going raw. I was diagnosed with PCOS a little over a year ago. I was put on Metformin, which just made me feel constantly nauseous. I decided to try and do it the natural way, and the raw food diet and lifestyle is really the only thing that makes sense to me. BUT ever since I was young I have been an incredibly picky eater. Does anyone have any tips to easing into this or recipes that they have used? Any advice would be nice. I know that I have to get my weight down. (I am 195, 5'3) and it seems like to more attention that I put on losing weight, the more it doesn't work.

[AV86]

Hi
I really don't know anything about what a raw food diet is and I have PCOS. I am wondering if anyone can tell me how I would start a raw food diet etc. I am tired of doctors and tests and all the run around I have been getting and would like to try to do this for myself. ( Really want children)

Any Help would be appreciated

Amy

additional info
I get a period every month, no cysts, I do have acne, some of the issues with hair, and I am over weight ( hard to loose the weight I am 5'3 probably close to 200 pounds ) Husband is Italian ( lots of pasta which I know is bad ). I was thinking of going vegetarian at first but I love fish ( salmon etc ) I can give that up if I have to. Really at this time my goal is to have children been trying since I was 20 and I am now 26 years old.