Living PCOS Free: How to Regain Your Hormonal Health with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

by Nitu Bajekal, Rohini Bajekal

Overview

When faced with her own premature menopause, Dr. Nitu Bajekal, the “plant-based gynae,” learned that the Western medicine in which she had trained and practiced had too long ignored the real impact of nutrition and lifestyle on both health and disease. To allow women to achieve their full health potential, lifestyle medicine and conventional medicine can complement each other, offering an appropriate blend of solutions for the individual patient. Based on her research, 35 years’ clinical practice, and her personal experience of a plant-based diet—with input from her daughter, nutritionist and former PCOS sufferer Rohini Bajekal—she offers this practical lifestyle guide to recovery from polycystic ovarian syndrome. Dr. Bajekal shows how this endocrine condition can be managed via the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, with interventions of Western medicine available as adjuncts as needed. The book features a 21-day lifestyle plan for hormonal health together with tried-and-tested plant-based recipes by the authors and illuminating case histories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781781612132
Publisher:	Hammersmith Books Limited
Publication date:	06/13/2022
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.25(d)

About the Author

Dr Nitu Bajekal MD, is a Senior NHS Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Women’s Health expert based in London, with over 35 years’ clinical experience. She is also one of the first board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physicians in the UK. Dr Bajekal is also a former Training Programme Director for Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the recipient of the President of India Gold Medal for her achievements. Dr Bajekal is passionate about educating women, providing reliable medical and lifestyle information for the general public, doctors, workplaces and schools.

Rohini Bajekal MA Oxon, MSc, Dip IBLM, is a Nutritionist and Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional, now working with clients in London after spending time in the food industry in Mumbai and Singapore. She has personal experience of overcoming PCOS.

Table of Contents

Foreword Brenda Davis RD ix

About the Authors xiii

Acknowledgements xv

Preface - When your periods stop: Dr Nitu's story xix

Introduction 1

Part 1 Understanding polycystic ovary syndrome 11

1 Periods: A vital sign - Know your body 13

2 Demystifying PCOS - Understanding the condition 27

3 PCOS: What to look out for - Signs and symptoms 35

4 Solving the PCOS puzzle - Diagnosis of PCOS 39

5 The missing link - Insulin resistance and PCOS 49

6 Androgen excess - Hyperandrogenism 59

7 One size does not fit all - Body weight and PCOS 69

8 Not just teenage angst - Adolescent PCOS 79

9 It's not fair - How PCOS affects people of colour 87

Part 2 Making informed health choices 93

10 You are in the driving seat-Lifestyle Medicine 95

11 The domino effect-The six pillars of lifestyle in PCOS 105

12 Full of beans -The benefits of plant-based nutrition for PCOS 129

13 You cannot meditate away a broken leg - Lifestyle Medicine complements conventional medicine 145

Part 3 Managing PCOS - The use of lifestyle approaches and nutrition to manage the condition of PCOS 153

Section 3.1 Symptoms of anovulation in PCOS - periods, fertility 153

14 When your periods go missing - Periods in PCOS 155

15 Getting pregnant - Fertility, preconception and pregnancy advice in PCOS 173

Section 3.2 Symptoms of androgen excess in PCOS 187

16 Spot the symptom-Acne 189

17 Treating the root cause - Excessive facial and body hair growth 199

18 It's not all down the drain -Female-pattern hair loss 205

Section 3.3 Addressing lesser known symptoms of PCOS 211

19 Making your peace with PCOS - Anxiety, depression, sexual problems and mood disorders 213

20 Healing the war with your body - Disordered eating in PCOS 219

21 From counting sheep to a good night's sleep - Disturbed sleep 225

22 It's getting hot in here - PCOS and menopause 229

23 Living longer, living better - Long-term consequences of PCOS 233

Part 4 The 21-day PCOS programme with Rohini Bajekal, Nutritionist 241

From self-loathing to self-acceptance - Rohini's story of living with PCOS 243

Introduction - How to live PCOS free 249

24 Mind the gap - How to transition to a plant-based way of eating 257

25 Skip the SOS for PCOS-Salt, oil and sugar 269

26 Soya: Healthy or not? -The role of soya in PCOS 277

27 Food first approach - The role of supplements for PCOS 287

28 Daily affirmations for PCOS 301

29 Self-care activities 305

30 Forms of movement 309

31 The plant-based PCOS pantry 311

32 The 21-day programme for living PCOS free 315

33 Recipes for living PCOS free 325

34 It is never too late - What we eat is bigger than just personal health 373

Conclusion: Our hopes and future outlook 379

Resources 381

Glossary 385

References 395

Index 436