Effective Strategies to Manage & Treat PCOS Naturally | PCOS Treatment Guide Pt. 2

Summary

In this podcast, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at ProTA Medical Center, delves into Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), focusing on insulin's role and its impact on weight gain. He critiques traditional calorie-cutting approaches, advocating instead for strategies like intermittent fasting to enhance insulin sensitivity. Dr. McCarthy also discusses the importance of micronutrients and his preference for the Whole 30 diet, while cautioning against extreme diets. He introduces supplements like berberine and the off-label use of rapamycin for treating PCOS, emphasizing the need for a holistic and personalized treatment plan.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Dr. Brendan McCarthy, the chief medical officer of ProTA Medical Center, discusses Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance in detail.
• 🔍 He emphasizes the importance of understanding insulin's role in PCOS, particularly how insulin resistance can lead to weight gain and other PCOS symptoms.
• 💉 Dr. McCarthy critiques traditional calorie-cutting methods for treating PCOS, arguing they don't address the root cause of insulin resistance.
• ⏱️ Intermittent fasting is highlighted as a potential treatment, not for calorie restriction, but to enhance insulin sensitivity and promote autophagy.
• 💊 Supplements like chromium, zinc, and magnesium are recommended to support insulin resistance, but their effectiveness varies and should be tailored to individual needs.
• 💪 Rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug, is discussed as a treatment option that can enhance autophagy and improve insulin receptor function, but its use requires careful dosing.
• 🥗 A Whole30 diet is advocated as a rich source of micronutrients that can support PCOS treatment, focusing on plant-based calories and avoiding insulin-stimulating foods.
• 🌿 Berberine, an herb with potential benefits for PCOS, is recommended, with a specific mention of the brand Gaia Herbs for quality assurance.
• 🌱 Metformin, originally derived from the French lilac plant, is recognized as a plant-based pharmaceutical that can be part of a comprehensive PCOS treatment plan.
• 📢 The podcast concludes with an invitation for feedback and a teaser for the next episode, which will delve into progesterone as a treatment for PCOS.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Dr. Brendan McCarthy's podcast episode on PCOS?

The main focus of Dr. Brendan McCarthy's podcast episode is to discuss the role of insulin in PCOS, its impact on weight gain, and various treatment approaches to address the challenges faced by patients with PCOS.

Why does Dr. McCarthy consider some diets for PCOS patients as 'barbaric'?

Dr. McCarthy refers to some diets as 'barbaric' because they are extremely restrictive and can be harmful to the patient's health, causing unnecessary suffering without effectively addressing the root cause of insulin resistance in PCOS.

What is insulin resistance and how does it relate to PCOS?

Insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, requiring higher levels to function. In the context of PCOS, insulin resistance can lead to elevated insulin levels, which in turn can disrupt hormone balance, leading to symptoms like high androgens, estrogen dominance, and low progesterone.

How does intermittent fasting play a role in treating PCOS according to Dr. McCarthy?

Intermittent fasting is beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity and resistance in PCOS. It helps by inducing autophagy, a self-cleaning process in the body, which can improve insulin receptor function without necessarily creating a calorie deficit.

What is the significance of the mTOR pathway in PCOS treatment as discussed by Dr. McCarthy?

The mTOR pathway is significant in PCOS treatment because it is involved in cellular processes like growth and metabolism. Engaging autophagy, which is the natural removal of damaged cells, can be beneficial for PCOS patients, and fasting can help to activate this pathway.

Why does Dr. McCarthy emphasize the importance of micronutrients in treating PCOS?

Micronutrients are essential for overall health and can play a crucial role in supporting insulin receptor function and hormone balance. Dr. McCarthy emphasizes their importance because they are often lacking in restrictive diets and can help address the underlying causes of PCOS.

What supplements does Dr. McCarthy recommend for PCOS patients and why?

Dr. McCarthy recommends supplements like chromium, zinc, and magnesium for PCOS patients because they can help support insulin sensitivity and overall hormonal balance. He also advises against generic dosing and emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment based on individual lab results.

What is the role of rapamycin in treating PCOS as discussed by Dr. McCarthy?

Dr. McCarthy discusses the use of rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, in treating PCOS. It can help push the body into autophagy, similar to the effects of fasting, and improve insulin receptor function. However, he cautions that it should be used with care and under medical supervision due to its potential to modulate the immune system.

Why does Dr. McCarthy prefer the Whole 30 diet for PCOS patients?

Dr. McCarthy prefers the Whole 30 diet because it emphasizes micronutrition through plant-based calories, is rich in micronutrients, and is low on the insulin index. This approach supports overall health and can be more effective in managing PCOS symptoms compared to other diets.

What are the potential benefits of berberine for PCOS patients as mentioned by Dr. McCarthy?

Berberine is highlighted by Dr. McCarthy as a beneficial herb for PCOS patients due to its potential to improve insulin sensitivity and support overall metabolic health. He specifically recommends the brand Gaia Herbs for its quality and transparency in product labeling.

How does Dr. McCarthy view the use of metformin in PCOS treatment?

Dr. McCarthy views metformin, originally derived from the French lilac plant, as a plant-based medication that can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan for PCOS. He does not see it as a standalone solution but rather as a component that can work alongside other strategies to address insulin resistance.

Outlines

00:00

🧐 Introduction to PCOS and Insulin Resistance

Dr. Brendan McCarthy, the chief medical officer at ProTA Medical Center, begins the podcast by discussing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the role of insulin in the condition. He emphasizes the challenges faced by individuals with PCOS, particularly in managing weight gain that seems resistant to various therapies. Dr. McCarthy shares his experiences from early in his practice, highlighting the ineffectiveness of a 'barbaric diet' he had witnessed. He stresses the importance of understanding insulin resistance as a primary driver of PCOS, explaining how damaged insulin receptors lead to increased insulin levels, which in turn affects hormone balance and contributes to the symptoms of PCOS.

05:01

🕒 The Impact of Intermittent Fasting on Insulin Sensitivity

Dr. McCarthy delves into the concept of intermittent fasting as a method to improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with PCOS. He clarifies misconceptions around fasting, noting that it's not merely about calorie restriction but rather about inducing a state of autophagy, where the body cleanses itself. He discusses the role of mTOR and the benefits of fasting for enhancing insulin receptor function. The doctor also cautions against extreme fasting that could lead to stress and elevated cortisol levels, which may counteract the desired effects on insulin resistance. He advocates for a balanced approach to fasting, tailored to the individual's health metrics such as cortisol, insulin, A1C, and luteinizing hormone levels.

10:01

💊 Supplements and Their Role in Managing PCOS

In this segment, Dr. McCarthy addresses the use of supplements in treating PCOS, expressing caution due to the vast and sometimes misleading market. He specifically endorses chromium, zinc, and magnesium as effective supplements that can support insulin sensitivity and overall health. Dr. McCarthy also touches on the importance of individualized dosing, based on lab results and the patient's unique health profile. He emphasizes the need for a physician's guidance in choosing and administering supplements to ensure safety and effectiveness, rather than self-prescribing based on generic recommendations.

15:03

🍽️ Dietary Approaches to Treating PCOS

Dr. McCarthy shifts the discussion to dietary strategies for managing PCOS, advocating for a diet rich in micronutrients and low on the insulin index. He strongly recommends the Whole 30 diet for its emphasis on plant-based calories and micronutrient availability, and the Mediterranean diet as a close alternative, though noting the latter's need for proper guidance to avoid nutrient-poor choices. The doctor also stresses the importance of a balanced approach to diet, avoiding extreme restrictions that could lead to nutritional deficiencies and stress. He discusses the role of nutrition in repairing insulin receptors and the importance of a supportive and educational approach when guiding patients through dietary changes.

20:04

🌿 Exploring Herbal Remedies and Metformin in PCOS Treatment

In the final paragraph, Dr. McCarthy introduces the use of herbal remedies like berberine, specifically recommending Gaia Herbs for its quality and ethical standards. He also interestingly classifies metformin, commonly known as a pharmaceutical, as an 'herb' due to its origin from the French lilac plant. Dr. McCarthy discusses the importance of using these remedies in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan that targets insulin receptors and supports overall health. He concludes the podcast by expressing his passion for his work and the fulfillment he gains from sharing knowledge, inviting listeners to engage with the content and look forward to the next episode where he will discuss progesterone's role in PCOS treatment.

Keywords

💡PCOS

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. It is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries, which can lead to symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, and excessive hair growth. In the video, Dr. Brendan McCarthy discusses the challenges of treating PCOS, particularly focusing on insulin resistance as a primary driver of the condition.

💡Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance refers to a condition where the body's cells do not respond properly to the hormone insulin, leading to elevated levels of insulin in the blood. This is a key concept in the video, as Dr. McCarthy explains that insulin resistance is a primary driver of PCOS and can lead to weight gain and other symptoms. He emphasizes the importance of addressing insulin resistance in treating PCOS.

💡Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where individuals cycle between periods of eating and fasting. In the context of the video, Dr. McCarthy discusses how intermittent fasting can be beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity and treating PCOS. He clarifies that the goal is not just calorie restriction but to engage autophagy, a self-cleaning process within cells.

💡Autophagy

Autophagy is a cellular process where cells 'clean' themselves by digesting and removing damaged components. Dr. McCarthy explains that during fasting, the body can enter a state of autophagy, which can improve insulin receptor function and is beneficial for PCOS patients. He stresses the importance of not overdoing fasting to avoid stressing the body.

💡Supplements

Supplements are substances added to the diet to increase the intake of nutrients. In the video, Dr. McCarthy mentions the use of certain supplements like chromium, zinc, and magnesium to support PCOS treatment. He cautions against indiscriminate use and emphasizes the importance of proper dosing based on individual needs and lab results.

💡Rapamycin

Rapamycin, also known as Sirolimus, is a medication that has immunosuppressive properties and is used to prevent organ transplant rejection. Dr. McCarthy discusses its off-label use in treating PCOS due to its ability to target the mTOR pathway, which is involved in autophagy and insulin receptor function. He advises careful dosing to avoid immune suppression.

💡Whole 30 Diet

The Whole 30 Diet is a dietary program designed to reset the body's habits and cravings by eliminating certain foods for a 30-day period. Dr. McCarthy recommends this diet for PCOS patients as it emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and can improve micronutrition, which is crucial for addressing insulin resistance.

💡Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet is a heart-healthy eating plan inspired by the eating habits of people in the Mediterranean region. Dr. McCarthy mentions it as a secondary dietary option for PCOS patients, but he notes that it requires careful guidance to ensure it is followed correctly and does not lead to overconsumption of high-carbohydrate foods.

💡Micronutrition

Micronutrition refers to the adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals. In the video, Dr. McCarthy stresses the importance of a diet rich in micronutrition for PCOS patients, as it can help repair insulin receptors and address the underlying hormonal imbalances.

💡Berberine

Berberine is a natural compound found in certain plants, known for its potential to improve insulin sensitivity. Dr. McCarthy recommends berberine as a supplement for PCOS patients, specifically citing Gaia Herbs as a reputable source for this supplement. He highlights the importance of choosing high-quality supplements for effective treatment.

Highlights

Dr. Brendan McCarthy discusses the role of insulin in PCOS and its impact on weight gain.

Insulin resistance is identified as a primary driver of PCOS, affecting cellular insulin receptors.

Traditional calorie-cutting methods are critiqued for not addressing insulin resistance in PCOS.

Intermittent fasting is introduced as a potential treatment, with a focus on autophagy rather than calorie restriction.

The importance of not causing stress through fasting and its impact on cortisol levels is emphasized.

Supplements like chromium, zinc, and magnesium are discussed for their role in supporting insulin sensitivity.

Rapamycin is presented as a controversial treatment option for PCOS due to its impact on insulin receptors.

The use of off-label medications like rapamycin is justified with proper patient education and monitoring.

Whole 30 and Mediterranean diets are recommended for their emphasis on micronutrition and low insulin index.

The necessity of a personalized approach to diet, considering individual micronutrient needs, is highlighted.

Berberine, an herb, is mentioned for its potential benefits in treating PCOS.

Metformin, originally derived from an herb, is discussed as a plant-based medication for PCOS.

The importance of not solely relying on metformin and combining it with other treatments is stressed.

The role of a supportive healthcare team, including nutritionists, in guiding PCOS patients through dietary changes is underlined.

Online resources and communities are suggested for patients seeking guidance on dietary changes for PCOS.

The podcast concludes with a teaser for the next episode, which will delve deeper into progesterone's role in PCOS treatment.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey welcome to my podcast my name is Dr

Brendan McCarthy I am the chief medical

officer of prota Medical Center in temp

Arizona thank you for tuning in uh today

we're going to dive deep a little bit

more into PCOS and today specifically

I'm going to go into the concept of

insulin the role that insulin plays in

this I want to go into how we would

treat this it's all about the weight

gain that people have with PCOS that

seems to be locked and when they try

different therapies nothing seems to

work well now some of you yeah you get

results with just the basic metform and

protocol and some of you yes you get

results with intermittent fasting and

and those protocols and some of you

semaglutide tepati whatever yes they

work but the vast

majority have challenges I'm here to

talk about those challenges and how to

approach them and different ways to to

look into it and I get results before I

get started please scroll down a little

bit in here you're going to see there's

that section where you're going to say

uh subscribe subscribe let me know you

like this comment as well I really do

appreciate your

comments with that said let's get into

it I remember in early in practice when

I had a patient presenting to clinic and

she was seeing being a nutritionist uh I

was seeing her for something else and um

she had hyperin insulinemia and she was

put on this barbaric

diet barbaric diet and it was so

brutal for

PCOS it and it it was sad cuz it just

didn't work and she was torturing

herself to make it

work a lot of you do that I remember I

remember it like yesterday you know so

many of the things that happened to me

in the very early years of my practice

shaped me as a physician so many and I

go back to that a lot when I do these

episodes and these reals I like to show

you where I came from you know what

formulated this it was very early on a

lot of these things that changed me that

evolved me and and help me become the

doctor I am

today are those early years of of

experiencing and seeing women

suffering no one should be on a barbaric

diet I mean if we're desperate and

that's all I have

okay but there's so much more I can do

so what can I do with this what can I do

with this PCOS has as a primary driver

insulin resistance primary driver

primary driver please know this let's

talk about that insulin resistance

happens when your cell's insulin

receptors are not working correctly so

the cells need a certain level of

insulin receptors and say there's x

amount of receptors here and you release

a normal level of insulin when you eat

your food the insulin then escorts

glucose into the cell and there you go

you have energy now if the receptors

become damaged you're going to need more

and more levels of insulin to get

glucose in the cell you need to keep

increasing output your pancreas keeps

making more insulin that elevated level

of insulin in your body is necessary to

push glucose in the cell over time if

you keep having that problem you're

going to start seeing your glucose

levels go up as well that's a that's a

co-actor in this

but let's just keep with this if the

insulin res receptors are

damaged and you have that that damag the

insulin receptors going to summon more

insulin from the pancreas that insulin

sensitive insulin resistance occurs and

you're going to see that blood sugar

happen and that insulin elevation is as

I mentioned the previous episode the

thing that drives up and fools around

with your your pituitary and that's the

thing that drives up your lutenizing

hormone which then leads to high

androgens leads to estrogen dominance

and low progesterone all the things we

see with PCOS insulin receptor

dysfunction is the first step most

important thing we should think about

how it's currently treated is just just

cut your calories because that's an

oldfashioned way of treating that you

know it's like well if you have high

insulin insulin resistance you high

glucose it's because you eat too

much a lot of you out there with PCS

have normal glucose your glucose is you

know 5 54 55 whatever sub 56 you're not

pre-diabetic but you have high insulin

how is lowering your calories going to

repair that it won't repair that it

won't repair that but many of you that's

all you do cuz you have no other choice

you no one ever tells you anything else

until today so what do we do what do we

do for insulin I wrote this down I

sometimes I talk on this I'm like I I

forgot to bring this thing up made a

list I checked it twice let's first

start off with the things that I do that

I like that work but may be

misinterpreted or misunderstood

intermittent fasting timed eating is

important for insulin sensitivity and

insulin resistance it does help most of

you out there would see it through the

lens of if I'm going to do intermittent

fasting I'm going to starve myself for

these amount of hours you start with

like I'll do eight hours and then I go

to 10 hours I go to 12 hours now I'm 16

hours now I'm 18 hours fasting a day and

that's going to help me lose weight

because I'm not eating during those

times so that 18-hour window I should be

burning calories and losing weight

that's not quite how it works that's not

how this will work because that doesn't

directly by itself affect the calor

restrictive component let me be clear

there does not

specifically affect the insulin receptor

this is very important I word this well

I want to do a good job with this when

you fast when you fast and you you you

pull back on your diet a little bit and

you don't eat during a period of time

like overnight normally your body goes

into something called autophagy where

your body just basically cleans itself

it's basically cleaning up after itself

you know this is It's like a um

remodeling redecorations you know that's

what's happen happening and and when you

have a a a period of time where that's

occurring one of the benefits of that

during that fasting time one of the

things that gets uh uh improved upon are

your insulin receptors this has to do

something called M tour and I was

debating whether I'm going to use the

term mour in here and talk about all the

weird stuff with that there's enough

videos out there enough weird people out

there talking about it and and enough

like you know um trendy dialogue about

but I'm not I don't want to get down

into that area I want to be with you in

this moment be really clear with you on

this just between us when you fast my

goal with you is not to really get a a a

hypocaloric

state because you a lot of you with a

lower hemoglobin A1c and your lower

fasting glucose you already do that if I

have you when you are fasting and you're

already doing like you know uh your

hemoglobin C say is 5.0 I tell you to do

a 18-hour fast what am I doing to you

what am I doing to you I'm stressing

your body out and what's the stress

going to do your cortisol is going to be

elevated it's going to be more insulin I

didn't solve the problem I didn't solve

the problem maybe if I do fasting with

them with a calorie deficit concept I'm

doing that in order to uh drive down

these numbers short term I could and

that might work and that's why some of

you are like I fasted it used to work

but now I gained all the weight back

why good question because we created

stress with the fast the cortisol the re

the the rebound insulin

Spike from the stress of fasting too

much when your body wasn't ready for it

so fasting for the sake of calorie

deficit is not working in this it won't

work in this I want you to know this

it's not the calorie game be with me on

that because you you you see your weight

is high and you're like it must be me

from overeating because the whole world

tells you that the world is wrong the

world is wrong we are right because I

know you know you're not eating a lot

when your a and your A1C is is a little

like that I know I know I know so what

are we going to do when you're inter

fast the goal with it is to switch your

body into that autophagy that that

selfcleaning so I want to get your your

your intermittent fasting out a certain

period of time where I'm not creating

strain in your body and I'm getting the

benefit that I'm looking for that's one

of the first steps that's important so

timed eating no snacking between meals I

need as many gaps between meals as

possible and I need to make sure you

overnight fast for 12 hours and I as

your doctor would look at your your

cortisol I as your doctor would look at

your insulin I as your doctor would look

at the A1C I would look at your

luteinizing hormone I'm running l to

make sure my diet is having impact on

you in a positive way but not stressing

or straining you if it's not lowering

your insulin I'm not doing my job right

do you know what I mean it's not working

I want it to work so we're going to keep

adjusting it what else can I do

supplements yeah they they work I get

sketchy about supplements because you

know there's so much Shenanigans out

there about supplements and I'll see Bad

actors out there so with piece cosos and

with weight and all these things you

know there's so many supplements out on

the market that are like yeah this works

and they're selling you chromium for

like a few hundred or something

ridiculous because they're trying to

trigger your anxiety and your fear and

they're trying to trigger that

insecurity in you because that's a great

motivator to buy things I'm not going to

sell you anything I never have I never

will so supplements I'm going to tell

you are effective and can be helpful

specifically

chromium chromium colonate zinc I know

magnesium is very efficient very helpful

I prescribe that to my patients other

things I I prescribe to my patients is

going to be if necessary I'm going to

look at their calcium levels calcium

does help I prescribe antioxidants

antioxidants are incredibly helpful with

women with PCOS that's a big role that

goes on in there like well brenon Dr

McCarthy what doses great question this

is the part that's going to be crazy I

run the

lab I'm not going to tell you to take

something if I don't see you needing it

and if I see you need it I'm going to

prescribe it

correctly I run the zinc panel on you I

run the Magnesium panel on you I run all

these Labs on you to find out where you

are and then I make my decision then now

say you're in a place where your doctor

won't run the labs what doses do you use

it's it's very personal I'm going to be

very honest with you on here I'm not

going to sit here and tell you what

milligram doses would do with anything

I'm doing that on purpose because it's

important to adjust doses based on

success this has been my understanding

throughout life if you give a person

magnesium I've had this happen at had a

patient who had no constipation uh

secondary to magnesium deficiency

because she had estrogen dominance so

when your estrogen is very high and we

give you

magnesium what's happening is that

magnesium plays a role with estrogen

detoxification Pathways magnesium is a

plays a role in the liver and it plays a

role in that whole process of breaking

down estrogen so if you have estrogen

dominance too much estrogen chances are

you're going to have low magnesium so

I'm going to prescribe magnesium I've

seen patients go online see magnesium

they're like well I'm just take

magnesium they'll take 140 milligrams or

something that will do nothing nothing

that I've seen other people do 800

milligrams to to you know 1,200

milligrams which is pretty heroic dosing

the thing is with these we need to sit

down with you and understand where you

are and then approach it so I want you

to know these are nutrients I use and I

want to know that I want you if you were

to use these to have your Physicians sit

down and help you target it because what

if you take that magnesium at 180

milligrams and you said magnesium

doesn't work but it does work

supplements I think are very helpful so

fasting to get mtor engage or autophagy

remove mtor rather and get get uh

autophagy going yes big and supplements

to help nurture that pathway I'm going

to talk about something uh controversial

and heretical because it wouldn't be an

episode if I didn't um rapamycin

rapamycin is a fascinating medication uh

that has significant impact on PCOS on

women

rapamycin you have to be very careful

with dosing rapamycin I'll be clear on

that and rapamycin a too high of a dose

is immune modulating immune suppressing

too low of a dose doesn't really work

you need to find the right dosy on it

and the method of dosing it a lot of

times in our practice we'll only do it

once a week you take your rapid mein

once a week we prescribe it it's

prescrib medication and it's the benefit

of it the impact it has on the insulin

receptor is significant and measurable

with lab work so we'll write the rap

ayin for the patient to see you're like

brenon what is rapamycin has it do melon

Target of rap ayin or mtor which I

mentioned earlier which fasting engages

mtor that receptor mil Target of Romy

Romy specifically hits that it rapy

pushes your body into

autophagy it's like helping your fast

get better traction it helps your body

heal itself better that's what rap ayin

does proven in the literature deeply

proven this is an off Lael use of it

though the FDA has approved rap ayin for

you know uh to prevent at high dosing to

prevent uh organ transplant rejection

true and good still as a physician part

of what we do every physician does is

use medications off label we are

supposed to do it does that mean the

medication is not FDA approved no that

does not mean that what it means is that

it is FDA approved as a medication we

are allowed to prescribe it you can use

it if you can show the benefit to the

patient so when we use an off Lael

medication like Rapa mein how do we do

it we sit down with the patient we say

this is what I think will work these are

the pros and cons of it this is the

research behind it this is how I expect

it to work this is how I'm going to

verify it works this is why it's safe

this is where it would not be safe this

is how I'm going to make it stay safe

for you that's how use off label

medication that's important anybody who

says that off label medication is you

know illegal or dangerous isn't really

paying attention that's not medically

true or sound so rap ayas in this case

is an important component in my opinion

for addressing the core cause of PCOS

fasting and Rapid myosin hands down

supplements after that what else do I

do the diet that you do and many of you

done you know a lot of you do low carb

you know I get it you know I've done

that too and ketosis diets and you'll do

carnivore diets and you all these diets

that are very very low carb and that's

effective to a point it doesn't always

work as I mentioned earlier is when

you're doing some of these extreme

diets any any any really far um control

diets that are very extreme in the sense

of you're only doing you're eliminating

one whole food grp food group or you're

only eating one specific type of food

these are extreme by Nature you know

that's how I feel about medicine excuse

me feel about diet so when you do those

types of diets you can have success but

the success will be limited in my

experience and don't does not last

forever in these cases because the

stress of it and the difficulty of

having proper nutrition on these diets

is is is a problem and nutrition is a

big part of treating this you need to

have the correct micronutrients around

to benefit the person in front of you so

I I want you to know when I do a diet

for these women I don't I try and avoid

doing diets that are difficult or

stressful or um Limited in

micronutrition my favorite diet to do

and I mean this wholeheartedly and I

give this my whole full throated support

is a Whole 30 diet I have done that diet

I prescribe that diet I live by that

diet that is the key diet for my

patients it works a close second to that

it's going to be the Mediterranean diet

but the Mediterranean diet is so like

abstract people like well I can have

spaghetti and meatballs that's a

Mediterranean dish it is a Mediterranean

dish you know that is true and a good

set of good a good uh spaghetti

meatballs is pretty dang delicious it's

true true but that will not help you

that's not technically that's not that's

not the Mediterranean I'm trying to talk

about so Mediterranean is tricky with

patients you have to spend time with

them doing education so with this diet

we do a whole 30 diet and when we have

this diet with patients I want to be

very clear with you telling someone to

go home and do Whole 30 diet can be

tricky and it's not easy and a lot of

times they feel alone and you get

lost we sit down with our nutritionists

you know my my partner in the practice

my wife she's the my my partner in the

practice uh she does nutrition at the

office and and you know we really work

hard to make sure it's accessible and

understandable and we stand beside you

and help you get through these diets so

it's important to consider do you need

someone who's been doing this for a

while that doesn't mean you going to go

to your doctor's office is it could be

you talk to someone who's been doing

these diets for a while maybe or maybe

reaching out to the Whole 30 website and

asking them for some guidance I know

them they're very helpful people I've

I've interacted with them on several

occasions in my career I think very

highly of them so that's that's a good

option you know and with fasting another

great resource Dr Jason fun I just love

his work but also I like the kind of

person he is his website has so many

helpful tools there so when you do these

things you don't have to onboard a real

expensive nutritionist if you can't

afford that or if it doesn't seem to

work for you there's these resources you

can do online with these people and I

know these two companies are very very

ethical people and my my personal

experience with them as a physician so I

do recommend them so when we have you do

a whole 30 diet say I prescribe that for

you I'll sit down with you and we'll

create or the nutritious will sit down

with you and create a diet plan you'll

be like okay let's make a menu for the

week and you create a menu of all the

things you want to eat and then we

create a shopping list with you and then

you go fill the the shopping list and

you prepare the food and we make a

shopping list and a menu that you can do

okay a menu if you're like I'm going to

do this complex dish you got home from

work at 6 o00 you don't have time to

make a complex dish you you want to

throw yourself in a crock pot or you

want to throw yourself in an instant pot

have it done so we make those diets work

for you so a Whole 30 diet is a key part

of this for me I've had tremendous

success with it why is it good it

emphasizes micronutrition through uh

plant-based calories so so you know

we're not doing grains on it okay so

your carbs from there are reduced but

you're going to be getting a lot of

vegetables and fruit in there and the

vegetables and fruit in there are going

to give you the micronutrition that's

going to have the zinc that's going to

have Cobalt which I didn't mention

minute ago that's another micronutrient

that's helpful it's going to have in

there the chromium all those

micronutrients in the foods around you

are more bioavailable and work better in

a food substrate so we make sure you do

that healthy diet this is how I approach

my patients with PCOS to make sure I go

after the core part of this that is

getting to them now if you think about

it what's different with what I just

described with what people are

prescribed in their standard appointment

with their their physician the doctor

will say just cut your

calories they may say do keto maybe

rarely but they'll say something like

that they'll just say go on Weight

Watchers and there's nothing wrong with

Weight Watchers there's nothing wrong

with keto these are good protocols for

people because they make changes but

this is a diagnosis with pathology and

PCOS does not always respond to

keto it doesn't always respond to Weight

Watchers that's not not a dig on ketosis

diets it's not a dig on way Watchers

that's just the fact that the the

insulin receptor is damaged and we need

to Target it and repair it so I believe

using micronutrition using uh timed

eating that's very careful how you time

it I believe that using a diet that is

rich in micronutrition and low in the

insulin index of foods that's what pie

that's what the uh whole threeory diet

is these are foods that don't stimulate

a lot of insulin foods can stimulate

insulin and foods can s stimulate

glucose by the way there's the glucose

uh uh index of foods and there's the

insulin index of foods you know this you

need to watch the insulin index because

that's another thing that that will be

triggering people with PCOS so we want

to make sure you're doing a diet that's

down that road of insulin index of foods

and doing something like that that whole

30 diet that's how we get through that

two more things to add in here that are

important that I bring up these are

herbs berberine is a a tremendous asset

to you

in PCOS it's a tremendous asset and I'm

going to do dose and I'm going to do

brand right now because I herbs herbs

are tricky because if you don't get it

from a good source um you run the risk

of number one getting nothing that works

in there because it'll say oh this has

berberine in here but really how many

act how much active component of the the

plant is in there so Gaia g a i a Gaia

Herbs they don't know me from a bar soap

they don't know me at all I love Gaia

Herbs I've known them and love them

since I first started doing this it's

one of the more uh effective and and

ethical and high quality companies out

there and you find in almost every

single health food store and I still

stand by them they will you can buy your

berberine from them and you look on the

label and it'll even say how much active

compounds are in there they measure it

with thin layer

chromatography they really do care about

their product so I would use Gia

berberine Plus or one of their other

berberine compounds I would not do the

liquid I would do the gel caps cuz

liquid Bine tastes terrible terrible

compliance drops off with liquid bourine

so you want to do is a gel cap to get

the best absorption rate in there that's

been my experience with it another herb

that I'm going to bring up is

metformin you heard me right I called

metformin an herb meformin originated as

an herb that's where it started as and

and it was repurposed as a

pharmaceutical they pulled the active

ingredient out of there and that's how

they made metformin meformin is largely

based upon an herb that's it for French

lilac that's it so when you use

metformin that's a plant-based

medication even though it's been you

know uh um turned into a pharmaceutical

I have no problems with meformin I don't

think it's a bad thing I think it's bad

to park you on it and not try and fix

you with all the other things with the

timed eating with targeting the the

theuh insulin receptor and trying to

repair that I think just parking on in

on meformin is not truly a good job so I

put you on meformin along with this

other protocol

and and I watch how you progress I see

how you

go so this was my dietary approach to

treating PCOS and I hope this

helps it's by no means exhaustive but it

gives you an idea how I look at it and

how I unravel

it your comments mean so much to me

because it helps me do a good job at

this because I do want to do a good job

I'm not here to to to sound smart not

here here

to to sell you anything I just love

doing this I love my work I really do

it's a very rewarding thing that I do

and it gives me fulfillment at a deep

level and to be able to share that is

priceless to me that's more important to

me than anything else is being able to

share that knowledge only has value if

you share

it has no other value in

life so please like share and subscribe

and I'll see you at the next episode The

Next Episode we're going to go a little

bit more into how to treat PCOS I'm

going to get more specific on a couple

of therapies that we employ in here I

want to talk more about progesterone

which is my favorite so the next episode

we're going to talk about progesterone

thank you again for tuning in I'll see

you again the next time

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