Treatments to Manage PCOS Symptoms | PCOS Living

View Original

7 Best Supplements for PCOS

Supplements offer a lot of benefits to PCOS women and can improve your overall health.

The 7 supplements featured here are the PCOS supplements to take. They will help with the underlying symptoms of PCOS and just make you healthier in general. Hip Hip Hooray!!

I believe supplements are essential because it is difficult to get everything you need from your diet especially with the way people eat today.

Every one is on the run and looking for quick and convenient which usually leads to fast food. These types of foods are calorie dense and nutrient poor.

Plus, supplements are much gentler on the body compared to prescription medications.

There are certainly more supplements out there to help with specific PCOS symptoms such as fertility, acne, hair loss, excess hair growth, insulin resistance/blood sugar issues, etc. I have plans to address these specifically in future posts.

Today’s focus will be on these 7 PCOS vitamins and supplements that will have a broad impact on cutting down overall PCOS triggers!

Feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you? Then you need this guide to help you learn how to get the care and treatment you need and deserve!

See this content in the original post

Natural Supplements for PCOS

1.      Multi-vitamin

To get all the nutrients you need from your diet would be amazing! But let’s be real, most people’s diets are lacking. Most people are not getting enough servings of fruits and vegetables in their diets.

According to research, if you eat 10 or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, you can substantially reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and early death.

Are you eating that many servings a day?

I’m guessing that like most Americans, you probably aren’t which is why you must start incorporating quality supplements into your daily regime.

Taking a high-quality multi-vitamin is critical.

See this content in the original post

What constitutes a high-quality supplement?

A high-quality supplement is one in which the ingredients are accurately labeled and contain authentic claims. There isn’t anything hidden in it that shouldn’t be.

We are lucky that we have information at our fingertips today. So do your research and inquire about companies and evaluate them. Is the company transparent about their ingredients? Do they use third-party testing to determine validity? Do the products have any certifications?

There are plenty of options out there, but you probably will do best with a whole foods type of vitamin. Basically, it is made from real plants and fruits. The formulations are easier for the body to break down and absorb.

I have taken several different multi-vitamins over the years, and I think this is the best multivitamin for PCOS . I like that it has folate instead of folic acid which is easier for the body to absorb. And some women with PCOS have the MTHFR mutation and can’t convert folic acid to folate.

Make sure you take you multi-vitamin daily and correctly. Not sure when and how to take it for maximum benefit? Then check out this related post about how to take your PCOS supplements correctly.


Want to know what supplement brands I recommend? Check out my Favorites section!

 

2.      Fish Oil

Fish oil is important because it contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Omega-3’s are great for reducing inflammation, reducing insulin resistance, and improve risk factors for heart disease.

And you know what else they are good for? Lowering testosterone!! Most women with PCOS struggle with elevated levels of testosterone. Want to know how you can lower testosterone naturally? Read about how these 4 foods lower testosterone.

See this content in the original post

Research shows that supplementing with 1200 mg of Omega-3’s a day can be beneficial for women with PCOS.

Choosing a quality fish oil can be difficult. You need to understand how to read the label. The omega-3 content is expressed in milligrams of EPA and DHA. To determine the amount of Omega- 3’s you are really getting you will need to add up the listed milligrams of both EPA and DHA.

Also pay attention to the serving size. Some fish oils, while they are quality may involve taking quite a few pills a day to achieve the higher level of Omega-3’s that you want. You may not want to take as many pills and therefore should read the labels carefully.

Make sure you are choosing a brand that has had their products independently tested and verified for purity. Fish oils can be contaminated with high levels of toxins such as mercury or PCBs. These types of chemicals can disrupt your hormones and make your PCOS worse!!

Here are two supplements for women with PCOS that I recommend:

  1. TherOmega Omega 3 Fish Oil

  2. Nordic Naturals

See this content in the original post

3.      Probiotics

A healthy gut is the hidden key. Inflammation often starts in the digestive track. To keep the gut happy and healthy you should be taking a probiotic.

Probiotics have also been found to aid in weight loss and reduce your risk for heart disease.

Probiotics are supplements that contain live bacteria. These bacteria are beneficial to keeping your digestive system thriving and healthy.

Choosing a quality probiotic is essential because you want to make sure you are getting enough “good” bacteria.

Look for brands that have various strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. These are two important strands of bacteria that will help keep you healthy.

Probiotics should have an expiration date and that is important since these bacteria are live. You want them to be as fresh as possible to reap the benefits. As a good rule of thumb, I always store them in the refrigerator. Heat will kill the bacteria faster.

Finding a noteworthy probiotic can be one of the tougher supplements to figure out. If you don’t want to spend hours researching, try this one.

In regards to dosing, you only need to take one a day. But always read the suggested serving as some brands might require you to take more.

 A healthy gut leads to a healthy you!

See this content in the original post

4.      Vitamin D

Did you know that a majority of women with PCOS are vitamin D deficient?

Studies show that approximately 85% of women with PCOS are vitamin D deficient! Wow!!

Vitamin D is valuable for women with PCOS because it helps with insulin resistance, fertility, hyperandrogenism, and mood. Make sure to read my entire post dedicated to vitamin D for PCOS to learn everything you need to know when incorporating this supplement into your routine.

It is wise to have your vitamin D levels checked. That is easily done with a blood test checking serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D. Ideally, you want your levels to be between 50-70 ng/ml.

Dosing depends on how deficient you are. However, if you are deficient starting with a dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D would probably be a good place to start. Once you have your levels, your doctor can recommend the appropriate amount for your specific needs.

Want a couple of reliable companies that I would recommend:

  1. Thera-D Vitamin D Supplements This brand is sold in a 3-month supply.

  2. Nature’s Bounty Vitamin D

See this content in the original post

 5.      Magnesium

Magnesium is such a critical supplement for PCOS that it even got its own post. It is a must for PCOS women and you can find the best version for your needs and detailed explanations of its significance in this post about magnesium for PCOS.

If you don’t have time to read the post about magnesium (although it is really beneficial if you do) here is the down and dirty that you need to know!

You want to take between 300-450 mg a day of magnesium. But be careful about what type you choose because some forms can cause a laxative effect.

I would recommend taking magnesium glycinate. Want more options or choices? Then check out my post entirely dedicated to magnesium and why it is so critical to take for PCOS.

*It is important to note that magnesium aids in the metabolism of vitamin D. Make sure you take these two together to reap the most rewards.

The solution to balancing your hormones is in this plan! Get it TODAY!!

See this content in the original post

6.      Zinc

Zinc is vital for a healthy immune system. When you are deficient in zinc you are more likely to develop illnesses and disease.

Zinc is important for PCOS because it plays a part in balancing testosterone.

Women with PCOS usually have elevated levels of testosterone which can cause acne, excess hair growth, or hair loss.

Make sure to check to see if your multi-vitamin has it first before adding this one.

Too much zinc can be harmful and suppress copper absorption. Zinc and copper should be consumed in a ratio of 8-15mg of zinc for every 1 mg of copper.

You can also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, and headaches with too much zinc.

So be careful with this one! If you choose a well-rated multi-vitamin you should be all set.

See this content in the original post

 

7.      Ovasitol

Ovasitol is a 100% pure inositol supplement. This is the go-to supplement for insulin resistance and PCOS.

It’s primary function is to restore insulin sensitivity and promote menstrual regularity. It also improves egg quality, promotes regular ovulation, reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, supports normal lipid levels, and decreases testosterone levels.

It is one of the most studied inositol supplements out there. There is a ton of research supporting its benefits for PCOS. I personally take this supplement. You can read my review about Ovasitol for PCOS here.

If you are looking to try Ovasitol, you can get it from Theralogix. Theralogix is a very trusted and reputable brand and it the only company to sell Ovasitol.

Ovasitol is a powder and is sold in a 3-month supply. USE PROVIDER REFERRAL CODE (PRC) 206109 to get a discount.

If you are insulin resistant, you definitely want to add this supplement to your diet.


A 100% pure inositol supplement to promote menstrual regularity and normal ovarian function.

USE PROVIDER REFERRAL CODE (PRC) 206109 to get a discount.

This PCOS Supplement List will reduce some of your most bothersome PCOS symptoms.

Look into these PCOS vitamins yourself and start adding them in based on your needs one at a time. Give your body a chance to adjust. While it is a machine, you don't want to throw too much at it at one time. Track your progress and watch your body change for the better!

The items listed above are accompanied by affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if a purchase is made through my links. This has no impact on the cost to the consumer. I link to products this way whenever possible, and it has no bearing on the products I choose to review or recommend.

As with anything, please consult with your doctor before starting any new supplements or medications!!!

See this content in the original post

Save for later!

See this content in the original post