PCOS & disorders of hair, nail & skin

Time of India

6 days ago

Lalit Kapoor is a 1971 graduate from IIT Kanpur and has done his MBA from UCLA. Lalit is a successful serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. With age, he developed lifestyle diseases and decided to reverse them by changing diet and lifestyle. This led him to study and research in the field of nutrition and plant-based whole food field. Eventually, he successfully got rid of all his chronic diseases and reinvented himself. Lalit became an inspiration for his IIT-K batch mates and started to guide them with his learnings. Many of them benefitted and successfully reversed their chronic diseases. He further incorporated the Nobel prize winning work by Nobel laureates Dr Yoshinori Ohsumi (2016) on autophagy, Dr Jeffery Hall (2017) on circadian rhythm and Dr Tasuko Honzo (2018) on immunotherapy into his recommendations. He has conducted over 450 course sessions which have been attended by over 150,000 people in over 50 countries with thousands of success stories. He runs over 100 active social groups and his NGO 'Plant Based Wellness Foundation' has over 40 centers worldwide. Lalit has also taught a course as a visiting faculty on Nutrition & Health at IIT Kanpur for one semester. LESS ... MORE
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is the most common endocrinological disorder affecting women of reproductive age worldwide.
Symptoms
1. Menstrual irregularity
2. Hyperandrogenism: excessive production of male hormones leading to facial hair growth and acne
3. Multiple cysts in ovaries
4. Obesity
Diagnosis typically involves laboratory tests and imaging studies. PCOS is a chronic condition that can persist for years or even a lifetime.
Causes
The exact cause of PCOS remains unclear, but several contributing factors have been identified:
Hormonal imbalance – Elevated levels of androgens (male sex hormones) interfere with normal ovarian function. In PCOS, the ovaries often fail to produce sufficient hormones needed for egg maturation.
Obesity – While not a direct cause, it can exacerbate hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance.
Genetics – There appears to be a hereditary component, as the condition is more common among identical twins and first-degree relatives.
Emerging research suggests that certain dietary patterns may influence the development or severity of PCOS. Inflammatory foods that promote the formation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs)—such as meat, cheese, and eggs—may contribute to its pathogenesis. Cooking methods also matter: boiling produces fewer glycotoxins compared to roasting or broiling.
Additionally, there is some evidence that dairy consumption may negatively impact fertility over time. Lactose in milk breaks down into glucose and galactose in the body; galactose has been shown to be toxic to ovarian cells. Studies have observed a correlation between milk consumption and ovarian cancer incidence in various countries.
Associated comorbidities
Women with PCOS are at increased risk for several health conditions, including:
Metabolic syndrome
Increased risk of Type-2 diabetes due to insulin resistance
Dyslipidaemia
Obstructive sleep apnea
NAFLD
Depression and anxiety
Anovulatory infertility
Endometrial hyperplasia and cancer
Cure and treatment
Metformin is commonly prescribed to help prevent the progression to diabetes, particularly in patients with insulin resistance.
Although my direct experience with PCOS is limited due to sparse patient feedback, most healthcare professionals agree that diet and lifestyle modifications play a crucial role in managing this condition. Changing one's diet to plant-based whole food, following intermittent fasting and a physically active lifestyle can help. Many women have reported improvements in weight, insulin sensitivity, and menstrual regularity through this diet and lifestyle. These strategies appear to be effective and sustainable steps in the right direction.
Additionally, I recommend specific yoga postures that stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary glands—key regulators of the endocrine system. Beneficial asanas include:
Shirshasana (Headstand)
Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand)
Halasana (Plow pose)
Karnapidasana (Ear pressure pose)
For more information, please watch the attached video by Dr. Michael Greger on this topic.
Best foods for polycystic ovary syndrome
https://youtu.be/HcT4K5KkTDE
Hair, nail & skin disorders: The role of trace mineral deficiency
Imagine a family of ten going through a famine. To conserve food, it might seem logical to ration it equally among all family members. However, there's another perspective to consider: if everyone receives the same minimal amount, they may all become too weak to survive. Instead, it may be wiser to prioritise—giving more food to those who are most critical to the family's survival and less to those who are less essential. This way, at least some may survive.
Dr. Bruce Nathan Ames of UC Berkeley has applied a similar concept to the human body. His research suggests that when nutrients are in short supply, the body allocates them preferentially to vital organs—such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain—while less critical organs like the skin, hair, and nails receive what's left, if anything.
This prioritisation explains why early signs of trace mineral deficiency often appear in the form of dry, wrinkled skin, brittle nails, or thinning hair. These are outward signals that the body is under nutritional stress, sacrificing non-essential systems to preserve the essential ones.
Dr. Ames also notes that micronutrient deficiencies are a leading cause of DNA damage. He estimates that over 60,000 strands of DNA are damaged daily in the human body. Without adequate micronutrients to support repair mechanisms, the damage accumulates, accelerating the aging process.
Trace minerals are essential for enzyme function—enzymes that build and repair proteins throughout the body. Unfortunately, our modern agricultural practices have contributed to widespread trace mineral depletion. The use of synthetic fertilizers prioritises only a few macronutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—leaving soils deficient in critical trace elements. Monoculture farming and the damming of rivers, which traps mineral-rich sediments in reservoirs, further exacerbate the problem.
Despite their importance, trace minerals remain poorly understood, and daily intake recommendations have yet to be formally established by many health authorities. Supplementation is also not a reliable solution, as the body absorbs only a small fraction of these minerals in supplement form, and the interactions among different trace elements are not yet fully understood.
The best way to replenish trace minerals is through natural, whole foods—especially those grown in mineral-rich, undepleted soils. Wild plant-based foods, particularly those from mountainous regions, are excellent sources. That's why I recommend incorporating wild berries, nuts, seeds from the Himalayan region, and Himalayan pink salt into your diet. These foods not only provide essential trace minerals but also do so in a form that the body can more readily recognise and use.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author's own.