WHAT IS PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (also referred to as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome,) is an endocrine disorder found in 5 % - 10 % of women. The symptoms may include:
*Irregular or absent periods
*Weight gain(particularly around the waist)
*Insulin resistance
*Acne
*Lack of ovulation
*Hirsutism (body hair in every place you don't want it!)
*Male pattern balding
*Multiple small cysts on the ovaries
*Ancthosis nigrans (darkening of the skin under the arms and breasts and nape of the neck)

Women with PCOS do not ovualte regularly because follicles on the ovaries fail to release the eggs within. PCOS has been linked with an increase in risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. They also have higher levels of LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lower levels of HDL cholesterol. Women with PCOS have an increased risk of developing a number of other health conditions.  This does not mean that because you have PCOS that will definately develop any of these problems, just that you have a higher risk  then somone without PCOS. The risks are greater for those who have these conditions already in their family history.
**Type II (adult-onset) diabetes: The risk of getting this can be reduced by controlling the production of insulin and with changes in diet.
**Cardiovascular disease: By controlling the production of insulin this risk can also be lowered a great amount. Also, bringing down levels of cholesterol, to normal.
**Endometrial Cancer:  This is cancer of the uterine lining. This risk comes from lack of menstruation.
Many women are trying low carb diets to try to get a handle on their insulin levels better and lose weight.  The more carbs you eat the more insulin your body produces. These carbs turn into sugar and your body has to produce more insulin to compensate for the extra sugar. If you are insulin resistant, it will take more insulin for your body to realize it's there.  Since insulin is a hormone it blocks your natural hormones from getting where they need to be.  Your body produces a normal amount of insulin and because you are insulin resistant, your body produces even more insulin.....making you hyperinsulimic.
Your ovaries then absorb more insulin and causes the disease to be worse.  So if you eat a diet that is low in carbs you won't produce as much insulin and therefore PCOS will be more tolerable