PCOS can cause devastating symptoms like weight gain, hair loss, facial hair growth, acne, sleep deprivation, mood swings and an overall feeling of un-wellness. What if there was a natural remedy to treat PCOS symptoms?
Sleep may just be that magical solution. Sleep is so vital to our hormone health and is a key way to manage PCOS. If you’re not getting enough sleep, your body can’t repair itself. And a good night’s sleep is essential for the physical and mental well-being of women. We legitimately need a solid seven to nine hours a night. If it’s at all possible, aim for the higher end of that range. I prefer eight to nine myself.
I consider sleep to be one of the pillars of successful PCOS management. Healthy eating, mindful movement, and meditation are some of the other things that I think are critical. Sleep is one of the most important things anyone can do for themselves, but especially as women with PCOS. Here is why sleep is so important for women with PCOS.
- Sleep is when your body does its repair work. Our bodies are under more stress than average, so it stands to reason that women with PCOS need more repair time, aka more sleep.
- Sleep strengthens your immune system. Winter is a time of shorter days and a greater “need” for sleep. It’s also the time when colds and flu abound. Nature is really wise in pushing us to do something immune strengthening at this time of year.
- Sleep reduces stress. Women with PCOS tend to have higher cortisol levels, more mood swings, and more mental health issues. We know that sleep deprivation and PCOS lead to mood swings. Replenishing your body with sleep will improve your mood.
- Sleep helps improve mood swings. If you’re already dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, you need to make sleep a priority. It’s non-negotiable.
- Sleep helps prevent mood swings. If you want to help prevent mood anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, prioritize sleep. It’s not a sure-fire cure, but sleep is a strong contributing factor to a healthy mood.
- Good sleep decreases inflammation. I’m all about decreasing inflammation with PCOS. Sleep gives your body a chance to wind down, check out, and restore itself.
- Quality sleep helps balance hormones. Our bodies are constantly trying to adjust our hormone levels and reestablish equilibrium. Give your body a chance to do what it’s supposed to do.
- Inadequate sleep leads to increased insulin and glucose levels. Insulin resistance is presumed to underlie all PCOS. Half of us are pre-diabetic or will develop early onset Type 2 diabetes. Enough said.
By increasing your mindfulness around sleep, you’re going to reduce sleep deprivation that leads to mood swings. You’ll feel better, look better, and your body will function better, and be more able to repair itself. Read my tips for a good night’s sleep.
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