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September is PCOS Awareness Month & we interview Dr Nandita Shah to learn more about PCOS treatment through diet and natural methods.
Data suggests that PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is widespread. In India, one in every five women between the ages of 21-60 is being affected or likely to be affected by it.
To understand PCOS in detail, we spoke to Dr Nandita Shah, founder of Sharan, an organization that is committed to building a culture of health and disease reversal through food. She has also authored ‘Reversing Diabetes in 21-Days’ and is a recipient of the President’s ‘Nari Shakti Award’ in 2016 for her work in the field of health and nutrition.
Can you explain what exactly is PCOS and what causes it?
In simple words, PCOS is a hormonal imbalance amongst women of child-bearing age. Basically, in addition to making estrogen, women also make a small amount of testosterone.
And in the case of PCOS, a little extra testosterone is produced that results in irregular or heavy menstrual cycles, extra hair growth on unwanted areas like face or chest, thinning of hair, fertility issues and weight gain.
PCOS is particularly common amongst teenage girls. The medicines used to treat it can have serious side effects.
What has led to PCOS to be on the rise?
When I graduated as a doctor, almost four decades ago, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS or PCOD) was relatively rare. In fact, most hormonal problems were barely known. But now hormonal problems such as PCOS, hypothyroid, menstrual problems, prostate enlargement, diabetes and infertility are heard of everywhere. What has changed?
In the last 40 years our consumption of animal products has grown exponentially. In the past when refrigeration was less available, non-vegetarian food was consumed mainly on Sundays. Milk was used in small quantities and concentrated forms of milk like cheese, paneer and dairy sweets were reserved for special occasions.
Now animal products are on every table in every meal. Vegetarians also consume dairy and dairy products. Meat and milk have the same properties – high protein, high fat and no fibre. The result – the same diseases across the population.
Are there any other reasons for the rise on PCOS?
We have more and more chemicals – hormone disruptors – in our food since we eat more restaurant foods, packaged and pre-prepared foods. Then, there is the ubiquitous plastic.
The good news is that most hormonal diseases can be reversed, and the power is in our hands. All that is required of us is to be better informed and make prudent diet choices!
What are the ways we can avoid PCOS and can you give some tips on PCOS treatment through natural means?
So what is the main cause of hormonal imbalance? Hormones and chemicals! Many chemicals are hormone disruptors resulting in various hormonal issues. These are some steps you can follow to reverse or prevent any hormonal imbalance. These are also useful for PCOS treatment…
Image source: Sharan
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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