The Connection Between Dairy and PCOD

Dr. Rashmi Menon is a physician who heals without medicines, helping her patients reverse their lifestyle diseases including diabetes and cancer. Her teachings come from her personal experience having reversed osteoporosis, asthma and endometriosis and lost 18 kgs! She conducts workshops, therapy sessions and meditation classes. In her experimental journey on the path of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, she has been a rawtarian since the last two years. Here is what she had to say about the correlation between dairy and Polycystic Ovarian Disease.

 What exactly is PCOD

These days every other woman seems to be having issues with their periods. In fact it has become so common that my patients don’t even mention it as part of their complaints.  Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD), also known as Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common condition affecting women in the age group of 12–45 years. It is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with menstrual periods and make it difficult for her to conceive. The principal features include no ovulation, irregular periods, acne and hirsutism. If not treated, it can cause insulin resistant diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol leading to heart disease.

Normally, the ovaries make female sex hormones and a tiny amount of male sex hormones (androgens). These help regulate the normal development of eggs in the ovaries during each menstrual cycle. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the eggs in these follicles do not mature and are not released from the ovaries. Instead, they can form very small cysts in the ovary - hence the name polycystic ovaries.

Various things in our lifestyle get infused into our body and influence our hormones. Primary among them is the food that we eat.

How dairy effects PCOD

More than any other food, dairy has been found to interfere with the hormone levels specifically.  The reason is that milk is produced by the mammal after pregnancy and requires a surge of hormones in her body to adjust to this new development.

So what hormones do the dairy products that we consume actually contain?  And what are its effects on the human body?

Let's take a look.

1. Prolactin

What: Female hormone produced during lactation
Action on humans: acts on the breast, ovaries besides CNS, pituitary gland, uterus, etc.
In relation to PCOD: Stimulates ovaries.

2. Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)

 What: produced mainly by mammary gland and liver
Action on humans: Similar to insulin, interferes with glucose metabolism and growth.  Effects endocrine glands.  
In relation to PCOD: Increases blood glucose levels worsening PCOD symptoms. As well as predisposes the person to PCOD.

3. Androgens 
What: Male hormones created by testes as well as adrenals. Present in milk due to stress factors.
Action on humans: Interferes with male-female hormone balance.
In relation to PCOD: Prevents ovules from developing to full capacity, thus creating cysts.

4. Progesterone and Oestrogen.  
What: Female hormones created by ovaries and placenta.  
Action on humans: Immunosuppressive effects along with effects on the reproductive system.  These hormones influence the ovaries to create ovules. In relation to PCOD: Increased production of ovules which become cysts.

Other than these hormones, milk also contains many antibiotics, chemicals, pus cells and added steroids which create a non-conducive atmosphere in the body from healing itself.

That is why patients who come with menstrual problems, almost always have complete relief when we remove dairy from their diet. The more we are aware of our food choices, the better we are equipped to aim our body in not only healing itself but also thriving to its maximum potential.

We no longer need to be a generation riddled with lifestyle illnesses!

Suffering from PCOD? Cut out dairy from your diet and watch the magic unfold.

For more information, contact Dr Rashmi Menon:

Website: www.therayofhappiness.com

Email: dr.rashmi@therayofhappiness.com