Educate. Thrive.Your resource for health and wellness information
|
There has been a resurgence of a long forgotten group of vitamins. The Fat-Soluble Vitamins. Why? Deficiency is becoming epidemic here in America. A Majority of the population is walking around with at least one deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins. The most talked about are Vitamin D and K, so much so that pediatricians are now recommending supplementing infants, and giving newborns Vitamin K vaccines to prevent deadly issues with internal bleeding. YIKES! This could all be prevented with proper diet and lifestyle choices (enjoy some sunshine and eat some cholesterol…more below)
For more detailed information and food sources of these vitamins, check out my previous post…click here The Overlooked Role of Vitamin E in Treating PCOSVitamin E deserves more attention than it has been getting for reproduction. It is often overshadowed by the more easily diagnosed Vitamin D deficiency. Without Vitamin E, our bodies cannot reproduce...period! Vitamin E is embedded into the lipid bilayer of our cells (the exterior "skin"). Although there is a lot of gaps in the research on Vitamin E and reproduction, there are some very good correlations.
What does this mean for those with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Well, look at a lot of the functions of Vitamin E. Many of the issues associated with low levels of Vitamin E are symptoms of PCOS, are they not. The Important Role of Vitamin D in Treating PCOSI want to highlight Vitamin D specifically, because in many women suffering fertility issues due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, there is a level of Vitamin D deficiency. There are Vitamin D receptors on the Ovaries, Endometrium, Fallopian Tubes, and Placenta. The receptors are connected to nutrient availability. Why? Because if there is not enough food being consume (nutrient dense food, that is), then the body naturally knows it is not a opportune time for conception. This is primitive. The body would naturally encourage reproduction at times when the sunlight and foods are plentiful (gestation is 9-10 months), so that babies would be born at a time when breast milk would have the highest amounts of nutrition….conception in October, baby born in July. As the Vitamin D levels increase and attach to the ovaries, they stimulate the production of reproductive hormones at the different stages of menstruation (progesterone and estrogens). If there is not enough Vitamin D attached to the ovaries, the ovaries do not release an egg for fertilization because the body is not nutritionally prepared for conception. It is a natural birth control, to make sure babies are born at a time that they are most likely to survive. And this is just the role of Vitamin D on ovulation and conception (although that is a pretty important link to other menstrual irregularities). Receptors are also in the endometrial lining of the uterus. Vitamin D attaches to these receptors and stimulates the production of progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. There is also a link between the Vitamin D deficiency and Endometriosis and other issues with Endometrium. Receptors are also found on the growing placentas. Vitamin D attaches to these receptors and stimulates the production of progesterone to maintain the pregnancy, as well as stimulates the growth of the embryo (specifically by stimulating bone growth, and hormone formation.) There are many other benefits and needs for Vitamin D in the body (thyroid for one), but that is another blog…I am focusing solely on the role within reproductive hormones at this point. But, would welcome any questions you may have. 90% of Vitamin D comes from sunshine. Vitamin D deficiency can be characterized by the following symptoms; general bone pain or muscle pain and weakness; muscle cramping; unexplained depression; fatigue; lack of concentration; mood swings; anovulation; low sperm motility; childhood asthma; sleep irregularities. Unchecked Vitamin D deficiency can lead to severe conditions involving the Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, and Neurological systems. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms as well as infertility, you may have a level of Vitamin D deficiency. One study done at Yale University tested a group of women experiencing infertility. Only 7% had normal Vitamin D levels. Not a single patient with polycystic ovarian disease had normal Vitamin D levels. (ouch). Another study found that Vitamin D worked as a modulator for implantation of the fertilized egg and formation of the placenta. Which if deficient, could lead to miscarriage. So, how much Vitamin D do you need? Well, that varies depending on your age, skin type and underlying health conditions. The body can make between 10,000-20,000IU from sun exposure alone, if conditions are right….wowzers….no supplement can match that without becoming toxic…truth. All supplements have a maximum that can be consumed before they become harmful. This is because they are synthetic vitamins, or separated vitamins. They are not found in their natural state and thus are missing many of the other nutrients, enzymes and chemicals that balance out and enable that specific vitamin in the body (sorry, another tangent). D2 is an example of this. It was the go to Vitamin D additive in milk, supplements, etc.. and it was found to be extremely hazardous. Supplements (if good), have switched to a D3. That being said there are times where diet and lifestyle are not enough and a supplement needs to be incorporated until levels are normal. I have my theory on the high rate of Vitamin D deficiency. I think there are two factors as to why people are not making enough of their own. 1) Too much sunscreen 2)Not enough cholesterol in the diet. For the body to create Vitamin D, Cholesterol in the body interacts with UVB rays from the sun. The outcome is Vitamin D. How much sun exposure do you need…it varies from person to person. Those with fairer skin need less time, those with darker skin need more time. The general rule of thumb is 1/4 of the time it takes for you to get sunburned. Now, this only works if you have enough cholesterol in your blood stream. So, it is important to add in GOOD Cholesterol into your diet. Breakfast #7 Broccoli Egg Scramble
GI: 31 GL: 2 In a skillet heat 1 Tbsp grease, add onion and broccoli and cook until onion is translucent and broccoli is soft. Set Aside. In a bowl scramble egg and season with S/P/G. Add in 1 Tbsp grease, pour in 3 eggs scrambled, add broccoli mixture back in. Cook, stirring frequently, until eggs are cooked. Serve topped with Avocado and Salsa Lunch #7 Nicoise Salad with Balsamic VinaigretteFor Salad
GI: 32 GL: 2 For Dressing
GI: 49 GL: 6 Complete Salad GI: 32 GL: 3 In a bowl/container, add lettuce and chopped dill. Top with vegetables, tuna and egg. Drizzle enough dressing to coat, but not soak salad. Dinner #7 Quick Sage Roasted Pork Chops; Bakes Sweet Potato; Sautéed Spinach
Because of the added Sweet Potato, I calculated the GI and GL for the entire meal! For one serving of each item GI: 48 GL: 10 This is a great example of how balancing high glycemic foods like sweet potatoes with larger amounts of fat and protein help to lessen the over load on the body. PCOS Nutrition Part 1: Basic Dietary Principles
PCOS Nutrition Part 2: Avoiding Dairy PCOS Nutrition Part 3: Sugar PCOS Nutrition Part 4: Glycemic Index vs. Glycemic Load PCOS Nutrition Part 5: Building Your Meal PCOS Nutrition Part 6: Understanding Hormones To Continue... PCOS Nutrition Part 8: Increasing Dietary Fats PCOS Nutrition Part 9: Top 10 Foods for PCOS PCOS Nutrition Part 10: Tips for Implementing the PCOS Diet
3 Comments
Layla
12/6/2016 03:38:34 am
I have been following this blog for a while now and today i felt like i should share my story because i was a victim too. I had endometriosis for 18 years and i never thought i would ever get a cure due to the terrible symptoms i had and this made it impossible for me to get pregnant even after 12 years of marriage and it was a serious issue. I got to know about Dr. Aleta who treated someone and the person shared a story of how she got a cure and let her contact details, i contacted Dr. Aleta and she actually confirmed it and i decided to give a try too and use her herbal medicine that was how my burden ended completely. My son will be 2 this december and i am grateful to God and thankful to her for medicine too. If you have (Endometriosis, PCOS, Fibroid, Ovarian cyst, Ectopic Pregnancy or any infertility issues) just reach her on (aletedwin @ gmail. com) she has professional advise and a cure too.
Reply
4/26/2023 06:23:02 am
I've been taking EphuroaLabs Vitamin K2 supplements for about two months now, and I must say, I'm quite impressed with the results. Not only have I noticed an improvement in my overall bone and heart health, but I also feel more energetic throughout the day. These supplements are easy to incorporate into my daily routine, and I love that they're made from high-quality ingredients. Kudos to Ephuroalabs.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Archives
September 2022
|