Did you know that the number one most common endocrine disorder is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? Even though it is the most common issue affecting ten percent of women worldwide, it receives less than 0.1% of funding from the National institutes of health. PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects approximately 1 in 10 women during their reproductive ages. The condition is normally caused by unusually high levels of androgens. Symptoms include weight gain, ovarian cysts, and irregular menstrual cycles. It can be difficult to diagnose with such common symptoms as weight gain and irregular cycles. Not to mention, not all individuals dealing with PCOS experience ovarian cysts despite the name.

Danger Ahead

Some of the hidden dangers that come with PCOS are the multitude of health risks that increase when you have this illness. The more common associated increased risks are miscarriage, infertility, liver problems, depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular issues. However, some of the more terrifying risks are that individuals with PCOS are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome. That, of course, does not cover the fact that individuals with PCOS are also at a higher risk for stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol.

Know Your Enemy 

Clearly, PCOS is a much larger threat than people make it out to be. When it comes to the risk factors that increase, the odds of developing PCOS are obesity, insulin resistance, high stress, and lifestyle choices. One of the biggest issues with diagnosing PCOS is that the risks and symptoms tend to go hand and hand, making it difficult to separate which came first. Luckily, treating one helps both issues when things are this closely intertwined. This means a great place to start is with nutrition and, of course, by reducing your stress levels naturally. One of the best ways to do both is by detoxing naturally and regularly. When our bodies are overtaxed trying to process excess toxins from our environments, foods, and lifestyles. With everything quickly adding up against us, it pays to have some positive things on our side.

Natural Solutions

For natural ways to prevent and relieve PCOS symptoms, there are a variety of ways mother nature has our backs. At the same time, nutritional changes like swapping over to an anti-inflammatory diet and eating seasonal foods will make a huge difference. There is a limit to how much food we can physically intake. This is why supplements are a great way to fill in the gaps. Some of the best supplements to add to your roster are vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 supplements. Please remember that vitamin D needs calcium and fats to be processed within our bodies. You can also reduce your risk by reducing stress and improving your sleep.

The Power In Detoxing

Don’t underestimate the power of detoxing regularly. Our livers detox our bodies regularly. Unfortunately, there is a limit to how much they can do on their own. Since PCOS can damage our livers and create more work for them, helping our livers when and where we can is critical to our health. A great way to do just that is with caster oil packs. I would suggest castor oil packs on your liver and uterus. All you need is 2 TBsp of castor oil, cotton cloth, and wrappings to help keep the packs in place. Start with 10-15 minute treatments 2-3 times a week. As your tolerance improves, you can increase the timeline to 1-2 hours per treatment. Castor oil packs help improve your bowel movements and purge excess toxins. This means it is important to stay hydrated throughout the treatments and after. For more holistic options, all you have to do is ask!

Apple Bees Knees

Gluten-Free, Vegan, Serves 1

Date Syrup:

• 1/2 cup water
• 3 sprigs rosemary
• 1/2 cup date syrup

Cocktail:

• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Coconut Bia Water
• 2 Tbsp Apple Juice
• 1-2 Tbsp Date Syrup
• Apple Slices to garnish

*Adult version swap out bia water with gin

Directions:

In a pan, bring syrup, water, and rosemary to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature stores in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To make a drink combine all ingredients into a shaker and serve over ice. Garnish with apple slices and rosemary.

Cream Cheese Chai Gingerbread Cake

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Serves 12

• 12 Tbsp vegan Butter at room temperature
• 3/4 cup date sugar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla
• 3 large eggs at room temperature
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 2 cups coconut flour
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground all-spice
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp black pepper 
• 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk
• 8 ounces vegan cream cheese at room temperature
• Vanilla Lemon Icing:
• 4 Tbsp vegan butter melted
• 1 cup powdered coconut sugar
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla
• 1-2 Tbsp full fat coconut milk

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pretreat a 10-inch Bundt pan with the non-stick option of choice. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, date sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Stir in the molasses and beat until smooth. Add in the flour, baking soda, powder, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix on low until just combined, don’t over-mix. Slowly add in the milk and beat until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Spoon half of the mixture into the pan. Gently spoon in the softened cream cheese over the batter and spread in an even layer. Pour the remaining batter over the top. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

For the glaze, in a medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients (starting with 1 Tbsp of the milk) and mix until smooth. If you prefer a thinner glaze which will make it easier to coat the cake add more milk to thin it. Drizzle the glaze evenly over the top of the cake after it has had at least 5-10 minutes to cool. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Molten Chocolate Cake

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Serves 1

• 3 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 egg room temperature
• 3 Tbsp coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla
• 2-4 Tbsp date syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 Tbsp brewed coffee
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 ounce dark chocolate chunks roughly chopped

Directions:

Melt the coconut oil in a microwave-safe mug. Whisk the egg, milk, vanilla, and syrup until combined. Add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Stirring until just combined. Spoon the coffee into the center of the batter and gently swirl it without completely incorporating the coffee. Place the chocolate into the center of the batter. Microwave for 2 minutes. Top with coconut cream, fresh fruit, or powdered coconut sugar.

Meatball Lasagne

Gluten-Free, Vegan, Serves 8

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large red onion minced
• 5 cups vegan Italian meatballs
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 3/4 cup vegan parmesan grated
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 3/4 cup red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 packages of gluten-free lasagne pasta
• 5 cups tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp date sugar
• 4 Tbsp vegan butter
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 2 cups coconut milk full fat
• 1 Tbsp wholegrain mustard
• 2 1/2 cups vegan mozzarella cheese grated

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until they become fragrant. Add in the meatballs and saute until they are golden brown. While browning, adds the thyme, turn the meatballs to help them brown evenly. It is easier if you do this in batches. Once browned, set aside and deglaze the pan with the wine. Add the tomato sauce and sugar, bring to a low boil, then simmer for 40 minutes until thickened. Make sure to taste and season accordingly. 

Meanwhile, make the white sauce by melting the butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in the flour to create a rue. Continue to stir over low heat for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Whisk in the milk a little at a time until it becomes a smooth sauce. Add the bay leaves and bring them to a boil. Simmer for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the parmesan and mustard until well combined. Into a pretreated with the non-stick option of choice, 30x20cm baking dish, spoon a little red sauce. Followed by a layer of the cooked, still slightly firm lasagne, white sauce, meatballs, red sauce, and mozzarella, and repeat until all the ingredients are gone. The top should have a layer of cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow resting for 5-10 minutes top with fresh basil and more parmesan.

Get Started Today

Keeping your body free of toxins and free radicals is necessary to maintain a healthy life and a healthy mind. You can add tons of foods to your regular diet to help your body with its critical detoxifying processes. If you are looking for a safe and all-natural way to detox your body at home, be sure to check out my Balancing Abundance Program. Because detoxing is so important and realistically, everyone should be doing it on at least a seasonal basis, I have put together a program to help you do just that. Here’s the thing, I know working with me one-on-one can seem difficult to get into (due to limited space), and I wanted to be able to give everyone an additional solution that has no limits. You deserve to be happy, healthy, and successful at everything you do, so here are some recipes to help set you up for success!

 Need A Hand?

A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. We all have to deal with our health daily, and it shows when we don’t feel our best. If you are tired of just making it through your day, you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you need help, I am always here to do that. Even if it is something as small as acting as a sounding board, do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies, and check back daily for more great recipes and information!