PCOS Review Newsletter #97

A free health newsletter for women with polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovaries.   Issue #097      January 14, 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Cinnamon Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

2) Does Chlamydia Make PCOS Worse?

3) Just for Today…

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1) Cinnamon Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Thames Valley University in the UK recently reviewed eight clinical trials regarding the use of cinnamon for diabetes or insulin resistance, which is a blood sugar and insulin disorder.

Women who have PCOS also are likely to have problems with maintaining normal levels of blood sugar and insulin.

In both diabetics and non-diabetics, cinnamon was found to lower blood sugar levels or dampen the rise in blood sugar after eating a meal. However, some of the studies were inconclusive.

A new study of rats by the USDA has shown that cinnamon favorably helps to regulate the genes involved in insulin resistance and creation of fat.

This recent evidence suggests that cinnamon is something that can be helpful if you have issues with blood sugar, insulin resistance or being overweight.

Insulin resistance is the inability to efficiently utilize the hormone insulin. Insulin resistance is thought to be the primary cause of most cases of PCOS.

You can add cinnamon to your food, and you can purchase highly concentrated cinnamon extract in our online store.

Source:
Kirkham S et al, The potential of cinnamon to reduce blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, Diabetes Obes Metab, 2009; 11(12): 1100-13
Qin B al, Cinnamon Extract Regulates Plasma Levels of Adipose-derived Factors and Expression of Multiple Genes Related to Carbohydrate Metabolism and Lipogenesis in Adipose Tissue of Fructose-fed Rats, Horm Metab Res. 2009 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]

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2) Does Chlamydia Make PCOS Worse?

Many women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome don't know that chronic inflammation plays a huge role in their symptoms. To learn more about how inflammation relates to PCOS, click here.

We were surprised to find a study showing that a chlamydia infection is associated with chronic inflammation in women who have symptoms of PCOS.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection and is a leading cause of blindness worldwide.

A Finnish study compared 81 women who had hirsutism and no menstrual cycle to 1,427 women in the general population. The 81 women with PCOS symptoms were 1.5 - 2.4 times as likely to have antibodies to chlamydia than the other women. They also showed evidence of higher levels of chronic inflammation.

The researchers concluded: "Chronic inflammation, which is associated with chlamydial infections, could contribute to the pathogenetic processes that lead to the metabolic and hormonal disorders of PCOS."

So what does this mean?

If you have a chlamydia infection, you should get it treated.

But more importantly, this study suggests that any infection that leads to a state of systemic, chronic inflammation is a cause for concern.

Besides treating any infection, you can also eat healthy, whole foods. Processed junk foods contribute to chronic inflammation. Whole, fresh unprocessed foods such as vegetables have a mild anti-inflammatory effect.

Sources:
Morin-Papunen LC et al, Chlamydia antibodies and self-reported symptoms of oligoamenorrhea and hirsutism: A new etiologic factor in polycystic ovary syndrome?, Fertil Steril. 2009 Nov 18. [Epub ahead of print]

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3) ) Just for Today…

Here are some thoughts for today:

Just for today, I will accept myself as I am and allow my real personality to just be.

Just for today, I will listen to my intuition about what I really want in life. I will be OK with what I want. I will not compare myself to others.

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what it is. I will face reality. I will have the courage to change what I can, and accept those things I cannot change.

Just for today, I will release judgments of others since I do not walk in their shoes.

Just for today, I will focus on living through this day only, and not worry about overcoming all my problems at once.

Just for today, I will choose to be happy. Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." He was right. I will replace depressing thoughts with happy thoughts.

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Thought for Today: "The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself." -- Gen. Douglas MacArthur