, a naturopathic doctor in Toronto who specializes in women’s hormonal conditions like PCOS. As a woman with PCOS, she’s well acquainted with its symptoms, and passionate about health education and advocacy for women who struggle with the condition.“I was undiagnosed for a long time, despite having basically all the symptoms, the very irregular cycles, cystic acne, hair loss,” she says. “I’m 47 now, so it does improve with age, certain elements of it, but it is a lifelong condition.
McCulloch says part of the reason PCOS is underdiagnosed is the assumption that it is a fertility condition that only causes fertility problems. Also, while 70 to 80 per cent of people with PCOS are at a higher body mass index, she adds that there are a lot of lean patients who have it, too, and they often get missed: “PCOS is not well understood in the medical community.”
And while the exact cause of PCOS isn’t known, genetics play a role — McCulloch often sees the condition in mothers and daughters and sisters.The solution to managing the condition, once you know you have it, is less complex, she says. “One of the things with PCOS is it does respond really well to diet and lifestyle changes. It’s amazingly effective, especially if there’s insulin resistance.”
McCulloch recommends regular exercise, finding ways to relieve stress, and developing healthy eating habits that limit processed foods and fill your plate with a variety of whole foods, including carbohydrates. And she warns against suggestions found online to follow the popular low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet because it’s not sustainable, nor especially effective for women with PCOS.
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