Hello there. I'm Monica Reinagle and this is the Nutrition Diva

podcast. Today we're talking about how diet and nutrition affect a very common condition known as

PCOS including some brand new research on the role of the microbiome in this

condition. Nutrition diva listener, Angie, writes,

I was recently diagnosed with PCOS

and I've been trying to learn more about it.

There seems to be a lot of confusing advice out there.

And a few sources suggest that a healthy diet for someone with

PCOS is different than a healthy diet for someone without this condition.

Is this true?

Well unfortunately Angie you've got plenty of company.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is a condition that affects up to one in 10 women of child-bearing age. In a nutshell, PCOS is characterized by hormonal

imbalances involving not just the reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone, but also hormones that regulate blood sugar, fat storage, and appetite.

Symptoms of PCOS may include painful or irregular periods, acne, abnormal hair growth, increased appetite, weight gain, and difficulty losing

weight.

Women with PCOS often develop metabolic syndrome and that increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes and the reverse is also true.

Women with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop PCOS.

And PCOS is also a leading cause of infertility.

PCOS is strongly linked with obesity and as obesity levels have risen,

PCOS has become a more common diagnosis.

But there are also lean women who suffer from PCOS.

Almost all women with PCOS, however,

...