Intermittent Fasting Women

Intermittent Fasting For Women 

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Food, PCOS, What to Eat

Intermittent fasting (IF) for women is complicated. There is a lot of positive research behind intermittent fasting, so it’s hard not to feel tempted to jump right in after hearing so many fasting success stories. But is it safe and effective for everyone? My goal with this article is to present the facts behind intermittent fasting— the good and the …

Low Carb PCOS

Is a Low Carb Diet Good for PCOS?

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: PCOS

If you’ve been following me (and if you are new, welcome), you know I embrace a root-cause approach to women’s wellness versus a band aid that may help short-term but doesn’t go deep enough to make a long-term difference.  So when I get so many questions about low carb diets and PCOS, I know it’s time to address it, especially …

pcos diet

The Best Diet for PCOS

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that can benefit greatly from diet and lifestyle therapies. In this article we’ll discuss the best diet for PCOS, which should be part of a comprehensive treatment approach to this complex condition. Often, once diagnosed with PCOS the initial treatment options include hormonal birth control, Metformin, and perhaps Spironolactone. While all of these …

ovarian cyst symptoms

Ovarian Cyst Symptoms And Natural Treatments

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Balancing Your Hormones, Endometriosis, Herbs & Supplements, PCOS

If you’ve got ovaries that ovulate, it is highly likely that you develop an ovarian cyst at sometime in your fertile years. You may not even notice the ovarian cyst symptoms or it may be very painful depending on the type and size of the cyst. Each ovulatory cycle, an egg matures inside of a follicle. Then the follicle bursts …

NAC Benefits

14 Health Benefits of NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Gut-Hormone Connection, PCOS, Preconception & Fertility

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has a list of health benefits that’s longer than its name! While NAC might not be as well known as other nutrients I’ve discussed, it’s definitely one worth having on your radar.  What do NAC supplements do? From detoxification to brain health, heart health, and fertility, NAC is a jack of all trades and a supplement I regularly …

Treating PCOS Symptoms: With or Without The Pill

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: PCOS, Sex Hormones

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a whole lot more than cysts on the ovaries. And the absence of cysts doesn’t mean that you don’t have it. PCOS symptoms can cause a whole host of issues including missing periods, heart disease, and diabetes. Symptoms of PCOS can vary based on the woman and her individual hormonal imbalances. Here are some of …

supplements for pcos

10 Best Supplements For PCOS

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: PCOS, Sex Hormones

Patients often ask me to suggest some of the best supplements for PCOS, which is a complex endocrine disorder that can cause a long list of hormonal symptoms. While the foundational therapies remain nutritional and lifestyle intervention, supplements can help support your efforts to restore balance. Many women are looking for alternatives to the typical lineup of prescription drugs, which …

PCOS, Inflammation & Insulin

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: PCOS, Sex Hormones

What do PCOS, inflammation & insulin have in common? Like many chronic conditions and disease, inflammation and insulin dysregulation are at the root of the issue, with PCOS being no exception. Is there a PCOS insulin resistance connection? In fact, inflammation and insulin resistance can lead to infertility, difficult and painful periods, PCOS, high testosterone, mood disorders, and many other …

Prescribed Birth Control for PCOS? Why That’s Dangerous

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Birth Control, PCOS

The symptoms of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) can be so frustration. As a solution, a woman with PCOS is often met with the birth control pill, maybe an androgen blocker and then sent along her merry way. Told there is nothing that can be done. Told she will never conceive naturally. And told that it’s just in her genes. And …