-by Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects millions of women across the globe. PCOS affects not just your period, but also your ability to get pregnant, the way you process food, your emotions, and how you feel about yourself on a day-to-day basis. Many women feel that having PCOS is like having to deal with something larger than life, and that it will always be a part of their lives. But did you know that PCOS is not just something you manage for the rest of your life, it is something you can actually change from the inside out?
The purpose of the PCOS Root Cause Mastery Course offered by the Institute of Nutrition (INC) is to do just that, with scientifically proven strategies to live healthier through integrating proper nutrition and lifestyle changes based on evidence-based practice.
In this article we will go over exactly what PCOS is, how traditional ways to treat PCOS may not work for many women, how finding the root cause of PCOS can help create long-lasting results, as well as some additional tips at the end of the article on creating a new way of life to eliminate your symptoms of PCOS for good!
What Is PCOS — Beyond the Name?
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome affects a woman’s metabolism and hormone levels in addition to her reproductive health. Women with PCOS may experience any of the following symptoms:
- missed or irregular monthly periods
- high levels of male hormones (or androgens) which may cause acne, excess facial and body hair (“hirsutism”) and thinning of hair on the head
- insulin resistance, which affects the regulation of glucose (blood sugar) and how the body metabolizes food
- weight problems, including trouble losing weight
- difficulties getting pregnant or delayed pregnancy
- mood swings, tired because of lack of sleep and feeling stressed
All of the above symptoms result from having an imbalance of hormones (insulin, testosterone, luteinizing hormone [LH] and progesterone), which disrupts the normal ovulation cycle and metabolic (food) regulation.
Another contributor to PCOS symptoms is current scientific evidence pointing to low-grade inflammation and a lack of diversity in the gut microbiome.
Is PCOS Really Reversible? Science Weighs In
The nuanced truth is that PCOS is not considered a “one-time fix” or a temporary fad diet either; however, its symptoms and metabolic imbalances can be reversed or significantly improved with specific lifestyle, nutritional and hormonal interventions.
1. Lifestyle Changes Have Proven Significant Impact
The research has demonstrated that a well-balanced diet, exercise and behavioral interventions can lead to a marked improvement in the hormonal, insulin and reproductive health of women with PCOS.
Dietary strategies (such as low glycemic index foods, high fiber, omega-3 & anti-inflammatory diets) support healthy insulin and androgen levels.
Exercise, especially when it incorporates both endurance and resistance training, help support insulin and hormone balance.
In addition, psychological and stress management interventions have been established as critical for successful long-term outcomes.
2. Insulin Resistance Can Often Be Reversed
A major contributor to PCOS is insulin resistance, which means that the cells in your body are not responding to insulin as they should. As a result of this poor response, blood glucose levels can become high and there may be higher levels of androgens released by the ovaries. The good thing about this is that many women with PCOS find that their insulin resistance improves or resolves with diet and exercise. When insulin resistance improves, this usually leads to improvements in menstrual regularity and hormone balance.
Important Point: In the PCOS community, people make a distinction between reversible and remission. Even though you may never be cured of PCOS for yourself, you can improve your metabolic function and symptoms to the point where your hormone levels look almost normal – provided you maintain healthy behaviours.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
Many women diagnosed with PCOS are often given the same standard recommendations upon receiving their diagnosis, such as:
1) Taking hormonal contraceptives.
2) Trying medications to increase sensitivity to insulin (e.g., Metformin).
3) Reducing caloric intake significantly.
However, by using these treatment methods, the symptom (e.g., irregular menstrual cycles) of the body’s imbalance is treated without considering the initial cause (e.g., hormonal imbalance). Although symptoms can be suppressed with these treatments/methods, they do not address the majority of underlying causes of the symptoms (e.g., Insulin Resistance, Chronic Inflammation, Stress, Gut Health, Nutrient Deficiencies, etc.).
As a result, most women experience the same cycle when utilizing these treatments; or they continue to feel “stuck” in their efforts to gain control of their bodies.
The Root Cause Mastery Approach — What Makes It Different
What makes INC’s PCOS Course different from other options available on the market today?
INC considers PCOS to be a disorder that cannot be cured simply by treatment of its symptoms, but is an established metabolic and hormonal imbalance that can be managed through an individualized approach to diet, lifestyle modification and clinical assessment.
- The course provides the tools needed to help women develop a better understanding of their own bodies and start the journey towards taking control of their reproductive health. The course helps develop an understanding of:
— Insulin resistance and how it contributes to the development of PCOS
— Inflammation and how it can impact hormone production and function
— Gut health and how it affects the health of the hormones in women
— Stress and how it affects the production of the hormone cortisol and the timing of the reproductive cycle
Through this approach, the student will go from feeling frustrated, to being empowered to improve her own health and that of her reproductive system.
2) Personalization Based on Phenotype: The PCOS Phenotype Approach uses the concept of the phenotype being the biological basis for the different symptoms experienced by each woman diagnosed with PCOS. For example; some women experience very high levels of insulin resistance, while other have extremely high levels of androgens, and still others have a continuation of irregular cycles. Because of these differences, the INC course has been designed using a ‘phenotype’ based approach to provide women with a variety of recommendations for their particular circumstances.
3) Evidence Based Nutrition: The INC course, unlike more traditional courses which are often just a set of prescribed food groups or a collection of extreme rules, provides participants with an understanding of blood sugar balanced meal patterns; the importance of eating adequately balanced macro-nutrients to maintain hormone stability; finding and using traditional foods; and providing anti-inflammatory and nutrient dense foods. In addition to understanding how what they eat will affect insulin and metabolism, participants will also learn the physiological significance of these factors, especially the effects of these hormones on reproductive function.
4) Lab Literacy and Clinical Insight: A significant strength of the INC course is teaching women and their healthcare providers how to read their own hormone panels and metabolic labs with accuracy and clarity, using these lab values to design a new lifestyle to improve wellness.
5) Long-term Hormone Sustainability: The INC nutrition program is designed to create long term hormone health, and therefore promote sustainable lifestyles, versus temporary or fad diets and methods.
How INC Helps You Fix Hormones From Within
Institute Nutrition provides a comprehensive system to help women be confident and supported throughout their journey with PCOS, not just generic nutrition advice.
✔ Scientific basis: Supported by current research about PCOS, evidence, and international guidelines, so that each recommendation has a positive health impact.
✔ Tools for decoding your disorder: How to read and understand hormone and metabolic tests.
✔ Individualized Nutrition Plans: Real food, real results- no fad diets.
✔ Strategies for managing Insulin, Inflammation, and Stress: Focus on the underlying metabolic factors that contribute to the worsening of PCOS.
✔ Professional guidance: Created by qualified, credentialed practitioners who have clinical knowledge or experience in Women’s health.
Real-Life Stories: When Hormones Shift From Within
Numerous women who adopt root-cause approaches to health see incredible results:
- They can restore their menstrual cycle after being irregular for years
- Acne and hair relief without harsh medication
- More consistent energy and improved mood and appetite control
- Improved fertility
- Decreased levels of insulin and androgen based on lab results
This is not a random “hack” — these are real results from optimizing the body’s ability to balance endocrine rhythms through consistent nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.
FAQs
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Is it possible to completely reverse PCOS?
There is no ‘cure’ for PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome); however, there are many women who see improvement in some of their PCOS symptoms, including insulin resistance, irregular cycles, and other metabolic symptoms, through changes in diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
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What is the role of diet in regulating hormones with regard to PCOS?
Diet impacts three main areas that influence hormones associated with PCOS; they include insulin level, inflammation level, and gut health. Incorporating low glycemic index foods and anti-inflammatory nutrients into meals helps to improve hormones related to the three areas mentioned above.
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In what way is the PCOS Root Cause Mastery Course different from other PCOS courses?
The PCOS Root Cause Mastery Course is unique in that it addresses the underlying causes of PCOS, rather than providing ‘cookie cutter’ advice/training. This course helps women with PCOS identify, based upon their specific phenotype, a nutritional protocol based upon their hormonal profile, laboratory results, and evidence-based lifestyle strategies, so they can see long-term success.
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How long does it typically take to see positive changes once beginning the PCOS Root Cause Mastery Course?
Every woman will respond differently; however, many women report improvements in menstrual cycle regularity as well as improvement in their overall energy level within the first several months of implementing and following the nutritional plan in conjunction with lifestyle changes.
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Is it important for me to work with a doctor while I’m making lifestyle changes?
Yes. Although the course will promote a healthy lifestyle through nutrition/exercise, working with the appropriate healthcare professional will ensure that you receive appropriate hormone testing and other treatments that were prescribed by your doctor, if applicable.
