10 Natural Supplements for PCOS

There are several natural supplements for PCOS that can help to reduce symptoms.

If you are looking for ways to naturally help your PCOS symptoms, certain supplements may be a good addition for you.

These supplements have benefits for PCOS like:

helping to improve insulin sensitivity
reducing testosterone
improving acne
reducing hirsutism
promoting ovulation

These are all possible symptoms of PCOS. PCOS is diagnosed by meeting 2 out of the 3 (or all 3) of the following criteria:

elevated androgens - testosterone and/or DHEA
irregular or missing periods due to missing or delayed ovulation
polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound

If you’ve gone to your doctor looking for a solution for your PCOS, you may have been offered:

birth control
spironolactone
metformin

While there is definitely a time and place for medication, you’re wondering: “is there a way to manage my PCOS naturally that I could try first?”

The good news (actually, great, amazing, fantastic news) is YES - there are absolutely natural ways to support and manage your PCOS.

This important question we need to be asking is: what are my drivers or root causes contributing to my PCOS?

This is taking a root cause approach when it comes to understanding our health and hormones. When we answer this question, we are understanding what is driving the imbalance (which is showing up as symptoms in the body).

By addressing the root cause, not simply just the symptom (or the hormone imbalance for that matter), we can find long-term, sustained healing.

As always, I’m giving away my best hormone tips here, answering your burning questions, and letting you in on the what the science says.

I’m here to help you have better periods, symptomless cycles, and optimize fertility (whether that’s now or in the future) all through simple nutrition and lifestyle shifts that feel simple, doable, and empowering (not overwhelming).

This is the kind of insider info I share with all of my Hormone Magic 1:1 coaching clients and students in my signature program, Heal Your Period.

I’m so passionate about sharing this info with anyone on a hormone healing journey, so I’m letting you in with all the info here!

So, let’s dive in into it!

PCOS ARTICLES

I have so many PCOS resources that it would be impossible to pack it all into this one article!

There is so much noise and confusion around nutrition and lifestyle shifts to manage PCOS with clarity and ease, which is why I’m so passionate about getting this info into your hands!

Click to view all of my PCOS Articles

Work with Krista - explore how I can help you heal your period, say goodbye to hormone symptoms, and support your fertility with private 1:1 coaching or at-home hormone testing!

What natural supplements can help PCOS?

Here are 10 natural supplements for PCOS:

*Consult with your healthcare provider before beginning supplements

1. Inositol

Inositol is a vitamin-like substance similar to the B vitamins. It is a natural supplement for PCOS that can help to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce serum levels of androgens (1).

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another great natural supplement for PCOS. It is something that is easy to sprinkle on foods for its blood sugar benefits. Cinnamon as whole cinnamon or cinnamon extract has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity by lowering fasting blood glucose (2), making it a wonderful natural supplement for PCOS to help manage blood sugar levels.

3. Chromium

Chromium also helps to improve the insulin response and overall blood sugar control, making it a great natural supplement for PCOS (3). Chromium and cinnamon extract together have been shown to improve fasting blood glucose (sugar) and insulin sensitivity in women with insulin resistance related to PCOS (4).

4. Magnesium

Magnesium is plays a role in thousands of reactions in the body. It has been shown to help improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control making it an effective natural supplement for PCOS. Studies show that magnesium supplementation may be beneficial for those with conditions like PCOS where blood sugar metabolism is altered (5).

5. Turmeric

Another great natural supplement for PCOS is turmeric. The active component of turmeric is called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric can be beneficial for those with PCOS because it helps to improve insulin sensitivity and acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory (6).

6. Omega-3

Omega-3s are a type of essential fatty acid found in fatty fish like salmon, but also in some plant-based sources like chia seeds, hemp seeds, and walnuts. Omega-3 is a natural supplement for PCOS and the benefits include improving insulin sensitivity and lowering total cholesterol (7). In addition, when paired with vitamin D it can help to lower testosterone levels and inflammation (8).

7. Vitamin D

Vitamin D supplementation in those with PCOS has been shown to improve markers of inflammation (9). Vitamin D paired with evening primose rose oil may help to regulate your menstrual cycle and help promote ovulation (10), making it a great natural supplement for PCOS.

8. Zinc

Zinc is a mineral found in food that functions to grow and repair body tissues, supports the immune system, and helps many of the reactions that occur in the body. As a natural supplement for PCOS, zinc helps to balance testosterone levels and can help with hirsutism, acne, and mood (11).

9. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)

N-acetyl cysteine is needed to make your body’s most powerful antioxidant: glutathione. It is another great natural supplement for PCOS as it helps to improve the body’s insulin response, reduce testosterone, and helps to protect egg quality. It has also been shown to improve ovulation and pregnancy rates for those with PCOS (12).

10. Vitex

Vitex, or chasteberry, is an herb that may be a beneficial natural supplement for PCOS if the person is also experiencing low progesterone levels (13). Vitex helps to regulate ovulation and boost fertility.

Final thoughts

There are many different supplements for PCOS to help reduce your symptoms and balance your hormones.

While it may be listed here it’s important to tailor a supplement plan to your body and your symptoms.

While we chatted through lots of different options, remember that every body is unique and it’s about determine what works best for your body.

The main foundations when it comes to lowering testosterone naturally is focusing on blood sugar balance and lowering inflammation.

Remember: simple shifts build to make a big impact over time!

Managing your PCOS with clarity and ease is possible for you.

-Krista

My signature online program, Heal Your Period is open for enrollment!

This is your personalized solution for regular, pain-free periods, symptomless cycles, & optimal fertility (now or later), without complicated, soul-sucking protocols, lists of foods you can’t eat, or spending tons of $$$ on unnecessary supplements.

Heal Your Period is an online course with access to me to answer your burning hormone questions each month! Watch this for a special savings offer!

If you’re looking for specific and individualized support for PCOS, period problems, endometriosis, stopping birth control, and/or fertility I’m your person! I offer private coaching and a hormone mini package with the at-home DUTCH hormone test. I have select spaces available each month and would love to support your hormone healing journey!