Should I be "Dairy-Free" if I have PCOS?

Many of us women with PCOS have all heard this before "Try going Dairy-Free!" Is it truly beneficial to eliminate dairy from our diet, or is it possible that I'm not yet familiar with the appropriate dairy choices for my situation?

PCOS is known as a hormonal disorder causing symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, and weight gain. It's also a Neuroendocrine Disorder. This disorder happens due to a combined dysfunction, leading to a disruption of what's responsible for your reproductive function. Making it difficult for your body to properly translate important hormones, causing an increase in the production of androgens. When Androgens increase they bring up symptoms like acne and hair growth.

With this article, I am hoping to help shift your perspective on how you look at dairy, learning the good and the bad so you can see food more as medicine. Helping you to ultimately heal and rebalance your inner being!

3 Hormones in Dairy That Can Affect PCOS

Dairy contains 3 hormones that could cause issues with your PCOS. Dairy also could promote the growth of Androgens like Testosterone.

1. Estrogen - Additional exposure to estrogen could potentially exacerbate hormonal disruptions.

2. Androgens - May affect insulin sensitivity and contribute to insulin resistance worsening hormonal imbalances and other symptoms.

3. Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) - Can promote the growth of androgens like testosterone

Dairy could be showing you what's going on within. If symptoms like IBS, acne, and bloat happen after consuming dairy, you could have a leaky gut or poor gut health. Try cleansing and adding gut supplements to your routine!

Gut Healing Supplements

Working on gut health is a very important foundational step to overall health. It also could be what's holding you back from fully healing. Try adding these to your daily routine.

1. Probiotics & Prebiotics

2. Zinc

3. Curcumin

4. Collagen Peptides

5. L-glutamine

Best Milk Alternatives for PCOS

Some of us just can't handle dairy or may not even enjoy it! Here are some great milk alternatives that are also low in sugar!

• Organic Almond Milk

• Coconut Milk

• Hemp Milk

• Cashew Milk

• Oat Milk

Have you heard of Raw Milk or should I say Real Milk?

Raw milk comes from grass-fed cows and is unpasteurized and unhomogenized. Raw milk contains all of its natural enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals making it a "complete food." This milk contains many healing benefits.

Reducing Allergies-

Nutrients like probiotics, vitamin D, and immunoglobulins (antibodies) found in raw milk naturally boost the immune system and reduce the risk of allergies. Enzymes found in raw milk help with digestion but are often reduced or destroyed during pasteurization, which can contribute to lactose intolerance.

Helping Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies-

One serving of raw milk contains about 400 milligrams of calcium, 50 milligrams of magnesium, and 500 milligrams of potassium. (7) These minerals are important for cellular function, hydration, bone density, blood circulation, muscle health, and metabolism. Many children and adults are deficient in these 3 minerals.

Improving Skin Health-

Filled with probiotics that can balance or kill off the bad bacteria in your gut which can help heal your skin. Having unbalanced gut flora can cause skin issues like eczema & acne.

"Today, raw milk refers to unprocessed, untreated milk straight from the cow. The milk you buy from the local supermarket nowadays is a different substance altogether. It has been pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, or homogenized. This liquid is not really milk. It is a chemically altered substance, heated to remove pathogens and bacteria and to prolong its shelf life. The resultant low-enzyme activity makes it difficult to digest, the altered fat content renders the vitamins and minerals difficult to absorb, and the residual drugs and antibiotics pose a threat to human health. On top of this, the naturally occurring beneficial bacteria have been destroyed." - Dr. Deborah

---

I hope this blog has provided you with valuable insights into choosing the best milk options for your PCOS journey. Instead of denying yourself certain foods, our goal is to find wholesome alternatives. Consider that your food choices may be telling you something about your gut health. Ultimately, addressing the root causes is the key to your path toward healing.

Find raw milk here: https://www.realmilk.com/