In this post, I want to share with you my top PCOS supplements for weight loss and beauty. Unfortunately, Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that can’t be cured completely and for good. But you can make steps to improve the symptoms and keep your hormones under control.
As you may know, it’s very challenging for women with PCOS to lose weight because they tend to have increased insulin levels, higher cortisol (stress hormone) levels and inflammation. All these factors lead to weight gain. That’s why in order to lose extra fat, you have to address these problems first.
If you are searching for the best supplements for PCOS weight loss, here is the list:
- Inositol
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Vitamin D
- NAC
- Cortisol support
I’ll talk about each of them in more detail later in this article and explain what specific benefits they have for PCOS weight loss. But before that, I’d like to give you a short overview of PCOS and how to treat it properly.
As a short disclaimer, I’m not a doctor or a PCOS specialist, I just share what helped me to lose weight with PCOS. But it doesn’t mean that it will work exactly the same for you. Read the full disclaimer here.
The polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common endocrine diseases that affects 5-10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is defined by the existence of at least two of three criteria, which are hyperandrogenism (elevated “male” hormones), chronic anovulation (lack of ovulation), and polycystic ovaries on ultrasound findings.
Common symptoms include menstrual dysfunction, infertility, insulin resistance, hirsutism (excess hair growth on body), obesity, acne, hair loss, fatigue, metabolic syndrome, anxiety and mood swings, obstructive sleep apnea, and abnormalities of lipid profile.
PCOS is complicated. There are different roots of this disorder and also symptoms can vary from person to person. All this makes PCOS difficult to treat. But it’s possible. And you can find more helpful articles related to the polycystic ovary syndrome in the category “PCOS weight loss”.
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PCOS supplements for weight loss
Women with PCOS are deficient in many key nutrients. That’s why supplementing with high-quality vitamins/minerals are essential for reducing PCOS symptoms.
Inositol
Many women with PCOS have a problem with their body ability to respond to insulin – a hormone that controls blood sugar levels in your body. Thus, most of the time they have insulin resistance. And it’s very important to address this issue if you want to improve your health and to lose weight.
One of the best ways to improve insulin resistance is by following a low-glycemic index diet.
In addition to this, it can be very beneficial to take Inositol supplements. Inositol is carbocyclic sugar that improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin — thus, reducing insulin resistance.
You can find different forms of inositol, but the most effective blend for PCOS is myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro inositol (DCI) in the ratio 40/1.
I like to use Ovasitol because it was formulated to improve egg quality and balance insulin. This powder has a pleasant sweet taste. And easy-to-use, especially if you choose sachets.
The recommended amount of inositol for women with PCOS is 4 g per day (in the morning and in the evening, preferably).
This is my favorite PCOS supplement for weight loss, because addressing insulin resistance is the number one priority if you want to lose weight with this disorder.
Where to buy: You can order Ovasitol directly from Theralogix here. Use my PRC code: 667899 for a discount (minimum $10). It’s also available from Evitamins here.
Magnesium
That’s another great PCOS supplement for weight loss. Magnesium has a lot of health benefits, but the most important for women with PCOS may be its ability to reduce anxiety and to balance insulin levels.
People who have low levels of magnesium can be more prone to anxiety and problems with sleep. And as women with PCOS tend to have higher levels of cortisol (stress hormones) and often experience anxiety, depression, panic attacks and mood swings, it’s important to take enough magnesium on a daily basis to manage these unpleasant symptoms.
Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to promote better sleep which can also have a beneficial effect on your weight loss and hunger levels.
The recommended dosage of magnesium is around 300mg a day.
Where to buy: You can get a high-quality magnesium supplement from FutureKind here or from Evitamins here.
Zinc
The most important benefits of zinc for PCOS women are the following:
Anti-inflammatory properties. Zinc is a powerful antioxidant that prevents cell damage and reduces inflammation in your body.
Blood sugar regulation. Taking a zinc supplement can reduce your insulin levels and improve your insulin sensitivity.
Thyroid health support. Women with PCOS are likely to also have thyroid autoimmune diseases. And as zinc supports overall thyroid health, it can be beneficial to take it on a daily basis.
It’s been proved that levels of zinc during the luteal phase (around 2 weeks before your period) are significantly lower than during the follicular phase. It can cause more severe PMS symptoms and period delays.
As a bonus, zinc is great for acne and oil control (that often happens with PCOS). The product is also effective for hair health by reducing grease, controlling hair loss and giving more strength and vitality.
That’s why try to take zinc supplements regularly. The general recommendation is around 15mg – 30 mg of zinc per day.
Where to buy: You can get a highly bioavailable form of zinc supplement from Evitamins here.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays an important role in reproductive health, in developing ovarian follicles and producing enough progesterone (which is crucial for fertility).
Studies have shown that women with PCOS have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency so they should get their vitamin D levels checked regularly and supplement as needed.
Vitamin D supplementation assists weight loss and general metabolism. If you struggle with excess belly fat, you may want to have your vitamin-D levels checked and adjust supplementary intake accordingly.
Specialists suggest taking at least 600 IU a day. But most women with PCOS notice a difference when taking much higher doses, around 4000-5000 IU a day.
Where to buy: You can get a highly bioavailable form of zinc supplement from Evitamins here.
NAC
N-Acetyl-Cysteine is a powerful antioxidant that can help to reduce inflammation, improve insulin resistance, and balance hormones.
As we already know, women with PCOS often have higher levels of inflammation and stress, and NAC helps to take these problems under control, therefore assisting in weight loss.
Besides, NAC can help regulate your menstrual cycle by reducing testosterone levels, promoting ovulation, and improving liver detoxification.
Where to buy: You can get a NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) supplement from Evitamins here.
Cortisol support
It’s well known that stress can cause the disruption or total loss of menstrual function in women, and PCOS is especially affected by stress. When we experience stress, our adrenal glands (located on kidneys) produce too much stress hormones cortisol that, in turn, elevate our insulin levels and androgens (male sex hormones). It all makes PCOS symptoms worse and contributes to weight gain a lot.
That’s why it’s important to manage stress and take supplements that support your adrenal glands.
I recommend “Adrenal Cortisol support” by Protocol for life Balance because I’ve personally noticed that it works. Sometimes I take calming supplements and feel like nothing really happens. But with this one I see that my mood improves, I manage my emotions better and I’m less hungry during the day (because this mix helps with appetite management).
It contains Relora – a special blend that decreases the amount of cortisol being released into the bloodstream that helps with weight loss (especially around the waistline where cortisol can have the greatest effect on fat storage).
Where to buy: You can get Adrenal Cortisol support supplement from Evitamins here.
Of course, this is not the whole list of natural supplements I use. These are essentials. But for improving all the aspects of PCOS (acne, cellulite, digestive issues, hair loss etc) you may want to take a few more.
For example, I also use probiotics which improve gut health (crucial for curing PCOS!). You can read more about that in my post “Gut health and PCOS” and “Best probiotics for PCOS”.
Healthy gut results in better immunity, clearer skin and faster weight loss so you should always make your gut health a priority.
If you find this post with the best supplements for pcos weight loss helpful, please share it on social media using the links below.
xo,
Jane
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