PCOS Interview w/ Alex Walker + Easy Oat Pancakes
Issue #5
Hi everyone. Happy Friday & Happy International Women’s Day!! I am very excited to bring this week’s issue on PCOS and an interview with on of my best friends, Alex Walk. Today’s recipe is easy oat pancakes that are not only delicious, but only take less than 15 minutes to make!
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that is diagnosed where female hormones are imbalanced during their reproductive years. Symptoms include:
Irregular periods.
Excessive hair on the face or body.
Infertility.
Weight problems.
Acne.
Another common symptom is having too much androgens. Androgens is a sex hormone that is needed for different processes like growth and reproduction. This hormone is a “male” characteristic and female bodies only produce small amounts of androgens. This is why many who are diagnosed with PCOS, often have an androgen imbalance that causes symptoms of acne and facial hair.
Polycystic ovaries, are ovaries that might be bigger and have cysts around the ovary. Although there is no cure for these cysts, many turn to birth control to prevent new cysts from growing. *I am not saying to take birth control to treat PCOS, do some research on natural remedies or talk to a doctor*
Alex Walker
Alexandra Walker is a high school Senior and one of my best friends. She is doing her Senior Project on PCOS and chose this topic because she has been diagnosed herself, and combined it with her interest in psychology and mental health. She is a major advocate for spreading awareness for this disorder and it’s physical and psychological affects. Alex will be attending the University of Monterey Bay in the fall to study psychology and plans to be a high school counselor. Some of her hobbies include playing rugby, working out, writing, drawing, reading, and dyeing her hair.
When were you first aware that you might have PCOS?
A: I had been having issues with self confidence, mostly around my body. When I brought this up with my therapist, and how it felt like I couldn’t lose weight, she said I should go get tested for PCOS. After that, more of the symptoms seemed to occur and it just solidified the fact I could have it.
How can PCOS affect mental and physical health?
A: In so many ways. There are so many of the symptoms that really affect the physical appearance of someone. It can really impact their confidence. It is also often linked with anxiety and depression, especially when talking about the infertility aspect. Weight gain or difficulty losing weight is another common issue that women with PCOS deal with, and that has a very major impact on their mental health and physical health. When your body is producing a higher level of testosterone than it should be, it can make it so the body doesn’t let go of the sugars it is producing and it can also cause rejection to insulin. This can create risk of type two diabetes and heart disease.
How can being diagnosed with PCOS change someone’s outlook on health?
A: In the aspect of weight gain, many women have difficulty with it and want to be able to lose that weight. Often, to treat that part of PCOS, women will begin to diet. Many aren’t equipped with the proper knowledge, however, and do things that actually won’t benefit them. What I have heard from my nutritionist when it comes to dieting with PCOS is to have a diet with a lot of protein and a lot of fiber, and to do more low impact workouts like weight lifting. You aren’t necessarily getting rid of anything from a normal diet, you are not getting rid of sugar or carbohydrates all together, just limiting them. Obviously, everyone’s bodies are different and need different things.
For me, personally, being diagnosed has given me even more initiative to workout and eat healthy. It definitely becomes a motivator, added on with the physical therapy I already have to do. With the health risks that come with PCOS, you obviously want to be healthy in order to avoid developing them. It really is a big catalyst to eat healthy and workout.
What are some things that people should know about PCOS?
A: It comes in many, many forms and every body is different. If you think you could have it, advocate for a diagnosis even if it ended up you don’t have it. It really does impact the rest of your life, and the earlier you get diagnosed the sooner you can adapt to the diagnosis. Symptoms also fluctuate! It is never consistent.
Last question, I wanted to get your opinion on how social media can impact adolescent’s dietary choices? Have you ever found that it impacts you?
A: From what I have seen, very negatively. As I’ve said, everyone has different needs and different bodies, and social media tends to ignore that and act as if everyone is the same. It has had it’s own personal impacts on me and it wasn’t anything positive. Most people that promote these fad diets aren’t licensed dietitians, so should they really be talking? Yeah, maybe what they did worked for them, but they shouldn’t be promoting it for young kids to see. Kids model behaviors they have witnessed.
I hope you all enjoyed this interview! Now please enjoy these easy oat pancakes!!
Easy Oat Pancakes (GF, DF, Nut Free)
Serves 1-2
Ingredients
1/2 banana
2 eggs
1/3 cup oats (This is the brand I like to use One Degree)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
To a blender or food processor add all of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Heat a pan on medium heat with 1 tbsp of coconut oil to grease.
Add the batter to the pan to create 4 pancakes (around 1/4 -1/3 cup of the batter per pancake).
Flip the pancakes when they start to have bubbles on top and cook for another 2 minutes.
Top the pancakes with your favorite toppings like fruit and maple syrup, and enjoy!