Women’s Health

Making a difference one cause at a time

Women's Health

How can the ketogenic diet improve women’s health issues?
The ketogenic diet has been shown to improve and balances out insulin levels, sex hormones (decrease free testosterone and increases sex-hormone binding globulin), and the LH/FSH (lutenizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone) ratio in women. This has lead to it’s implication as a nutritional therapy for P.C.O.S., since it is an endocrine disorder linked to obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and elevated lipid and cholesterol levels. Since PCOS is a common cause of infertility, the ketogenic diet has been heavily linked to increased fertility in women. In fact, in the first study listed below, two of the women who were previously infertile became pregnant during the study.
Furthermore, the ketogenic diet also has benefits for conditions such as amenorrhea and irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, and hormonal imbalances due to its ability to regulate hormone levels and decrease inflammation. Check out the studies below that show how the ketogenic diet may improve women’s health issues and their symptoms.

What issues are some of the issues women are facing?
– P.C.O.S. or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by increased androgen levels and characterized by ovarian cysts, menstrual irregularities, weight gain, acne, facial hair, and infertility.
– Infertility affects approximately 10% of women and is often caused by PCOS or other ovulation disorders, endometriosis, body weight (too high or low), hormonal imbalances, and uterine abnormalities.
– Endometriosis is a painful disorder caused by uterine tissue found outside of the uterus. This tissue is often located on the Fallopian tubes or ovaries, but can also be located on the intestines. Since endometrial tissue is sloughed off during her menstrual cycle (which is what causes bleeding) women may experience more painful periods, as this tissue is also being broken down outside of the uterus.
– Amenorrhea is the absence of a monthly period and irregular menstruation is characterized by abnormal timing, lack of or heavy periods. This often caused by certain medications, stress, PCOS, body weight (too high or low), intense physical activity, and eating disorders, menopause, and pregnancy.
– Hormonal imbalances is a catch-all term for irregular levels of hormones– most often referring to andorgen (estrogen or testosterone), thyroid, or cortisol levels.

Jenny Graham

Jenny has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which made it extremely difficult for her to get pregnant. She then started to experiment with keto and instantly started to experience the benefits, from losing 15 pounds in the first week to avoiding the “carb crash”, she felt more alive than ever. After her fertility drugs failed her, again and again, she decided to go full in on keto. To her suprise, before she was able to go back to her doctor for additional testing, she took a pregnancy test that came out positive! Her keto baby was born in October 2017 and now finds herself with a second keto baby on the way. “I cannot thank the keto community enough for being such a great support system. My life has been changed for the better because of this community.”

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