PCOS affects a major part of a menstruating person’s life than many of them are aware of. The lack of information about the condition and the reluctance of people to talk about the matter makes it worse. As we kick off World PCOS Awareness Month, we try to understand the proper repercussions and the best ways to manage your periods. As science progresses each day, many women have taken the initiative to further the research on PCOS and the reproductive health of women. We spoke to Dr Prarthana Shah, a doctor who specialised in preventative CVD medicine and an Integrative Health Coach to get a better understanding of the vital role nutrition plays in a woman’s reproductive cycle.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting millions of women worldwide. Characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgen production, and the presence of cysts on the ovaries, PCOS can lead to a range of health issues, including infertility, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer.

Role of Nutrition in PCOS Management

A balanced diet plays a crucial role in managing PCOS symptoms and reducing the risk of associated health complications. By focusing on nutrient-dense foods and avoiding certain triggers, women with PCOS can significantly improve their overall well-being.

According to Dr. Prarthana, “The first thing is B12. So, a common deficiency, even otherwise, which can affect a woman's hormonal balance, because it helps regulate your hair length, and so it's important to make sure that you're getting enough B12.” There are important nutrients that women must have for healthy menstrual cycles.

• Vitamin B12: Essential for hormonal balance, hair health, and regular menstruation.
• Vitamin D: Helps regulate hormones, supports ovarian function, and improves insulin sensitivity.
• Iron: Crucial for preventing anaemia, which is common during menstruation.
• Electrolytes: Help maintain fluid balance and prevent fatigue.
• Amino acids: Provide building blocks for proteins and support overall health.

Dietary Recommendations for PCOS

As Dr Prarthana mentioned, the key nutrients that women lack are the reason why their periods might be irregular and make it difficult for them to handle it. She suggested that it's essential to prioritize a nutrient-rich diet. Focus on consuming whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Minimize your intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, processed meats, and refined carbohydrates, as these can contribute to inflammation and hormonal imbalances. Consider limiting or avoiding dairy products, as they may contain hormones that can disrupt your hormonal regulation.

She also emphasised the importance of seasonal fruits. While many people have expressed their reservations with cross-contamination and germs from fruits she says, “You have to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables. Greens and salad leaves, all of these things for vitamin B12. Now, of course, there will be some vendors that cut it up. So, don't buy it from there. one tip I personally suggest is that I use something called Veggie Wash where I wash my salad leaves in that at home. You can also wash it with salt or apple cider vinegar.”

When enjoying seasonal fruits and vegetables, be mindful of potential contamination from vendors who cut and sell them. Wash them thoroughly at home to ensure safety. Finally, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to support overall health and prevent dehydration.

Lifestyle changes you should make for PCOS

According to Dr Prarthana, your lifestyle plays a really important role in PCOS, “So, I know most women, even though they regularly exercise, I mean the ones that do, also kind of skip it during the period and that is the wrong thing to do, ideally.”

She also expresses how much it actually helps with period pains and relief for women, “It's okay. You should go and do some sort of exercise. Go for a walk. It could be lighter if you're, you know, tired. But something in some form of movement, maybe yoga, stretching, whatever works for each person depending on how much pain they have. It really opens up the muscles and gives you relief.”

Other changes include,

• Manage stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.
• Prioritize sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.
• Consider supplements: Consult with a healthcare professional about potential supplements, such as vitamin D and iron, to address specific deficiencies.

Suicides are one of the leading causes of death around the world. While it is easy to say that the person who chose to take their lives did it of their own violation, Harvard psychologist Dr. Matthew Nock, explains the other side. “90% of people who try and kill themselves say, I didn't want to die per se. I wanted to escape from seemingly intolerable.” Speaking on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, Dr. Nock pointed out that the link between work pressure and suicidal thoughts varies by race and ethnicity.

The concerning rise in suicide cases tied to work pressure has fueled a social media conversation about toxic work culture. What was once considered a normal part of the professional grind is now being openly challenged, as people share personal stories of the anxiety, depression, and isolation caused by unhealthy work environments.

What Professions Are At High Risk Of Suicide?

According to Dr. Matthew Nock, certain careers are linked to a higher risk of suicide.

Police Officers

He noted that physicians and police officers are among those at high risk. He mentioned a spike in suicides among New York City police officers, who are predominantly white men, and shared that female police officers, in particular, face a higher risk, even when accounting for factors like age, race, and ethnicity.

According to a 2025 study published in the Police Practice and Research, on average, 21.4 out of every 100,000 officers died by suicide each year.

The study showed that the suicide rate was much higher for male officers (22.7 per 100,000) than for female officers (12.7 per 100,000).

Physicians

Dr. Nock explained that access to means is a significant factor in these high-risk professions, which helps explain why physicians, police officers, and military members have a much higher risk of suicide compared to others.

Another study published in 2024 The BMJ, showed that the number of suicides among doctors has been going down, female doctors are still at a much higher risk than other people.

When looking at all the data, male doctors were found to have a 5% higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

In a more recent analysis of the last few years, the overall suicide rate for doctors has decreased, which is good news. But even with this improvement, female doctors still have a 24% higher risk than the general public.

Why We Need To Talk More About Suicide

Dr. Nock stresses the importance of openly discussing suicide, particularly in schools. He compared it to fire drills or earthquake preparedness, saying that since 15% of people will experience suicidal thoughts, it's crucial to equip everyone with a safety plan..Dr. Matthew Nock said, "We know that asking about suicide, talking about suicide, does not make people suicidal."

He noted that the people who act on suicidal thoughts often show different signs than those who just have the thoughts. While depression is a strong predictor of having suicidal thoughts, other factors like anxiety, aggressiveness, poor behavioral control, and drug or alcohol use are more closely linked to a person actually attempting suicide.

He believes that a small educational module on suicide in health class could help save lives by teaching people what to do if they or someone they know is struggling.

While we all know air pollution affects our health, did you know that it was actually driving cancer cases higher? This has led to a big rise in health problems worldwide. Past studies show that air pollution is linked to about seven million premature deaths each year and contributes to over 3% of all years of healthy life lost globally. This revelation was a big concern for public health, and to fix it, many measures were taken.

While some countries like the US showed promising results in bettering public health, a recent study in the International Journal of Public Health showed that this positive trend is not yet showed up in China.

How Is PM2 Pollution Affecting Our Health?

One of the most dangerous types of air pollution is called fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. These tiny particles come from car exhaust, factory smoke, and even from the smoke created by burning solid fuels inside homes. Because they are so incredibly small, they can stay suspended in the air for a long time and, when we breathe them in, they go deep into our lungs.

Once inside the body, PM2.5 can cause inflammation and even change our genes, which increases our risk for many illnesses, especially tracheal, bronchial, and lung (TBL) cancers. A new study looked at how much PM2.5 pollution has affected TBL cancer rates in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States from 1990 to 2021.

Has Pollution-Related Health Risk Decreased Everywhere?

The study, which used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project, found some important trends:

Overall Cancer Rates Are Declining

The good news is that globally, the number of deaths and years of healthy life lost due to TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 pollution are going down. This positive trend was consistent in all the countries studied: China, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.

China's Unique Challenge

Despite this global trend, China faced a much higher death rate from TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 compared to the other three countries. While their rates are decreasing, they still remain significantly higher than the worldwide average.

Household Pollution Hits Women Harder

The research also looked at pollution from burning solid fuels inside homes. The global death rate from TBL cancer linked to this type of pollution has remained stable, but it's actually increasing for women while it's decreasing for men. This highlights a specific danger for women in homes that rely on these fuels.

Will This Pollution Cancer Trend Keep Rising?

Looking ahead, researchers predict that the global death rate for TBL cancer caused by PM2.5 will actually increase over the next 29 years. However, the study notes that countries like China, South Korea, and the U.S. are expected to see a significant drop in their rates, while Japan's numbers are expected to stay about the same.

Overall, this study shows that while air pollution is a serious global health risk, the efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure in many countries are making a real, positive difference.

Maintaining our gut health is not as easy as it seems. Even things like how you do your bowel movements could reveal how healthy your gut actually is. According to Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a board-certified gastroenterologist, many of us are making common mistakes on the toilet that can lead to real health problems. Here are three crucial habits to change to improve your gut health. Here are three mistakes' people make will they are in the washroom.

3 Bathroom Mistakes You Are Making

Stop Straining

Pushing or straining when you poop can cause serious issues like hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in your rectum and anus, and anal fissures, which are small tears in the lining of your anus. In more severe cases, it can even lead to rectal prolapse, where part of the rectum slides out of the anus. Instead of forcing it, focus on taking deep breaths. This helps your abdominal muscles relax and allows your body to do its job naturally, reducing the risk of painful complications.

Put Down Your Phone

Scrolling on your phone while on the toilet can be a bad habit. Spending extra time on the toilet, even if you’re not straining, puts pressure on the delicate veins in your rectum. This can cause them to swell, significantly increasing your risk of hemorrhoids. To protect yourself, it’s best to keep your bathroom breaks short—ideally, under five minutes.

Don't Ignore the Urge

When you feel the need to poop, it's important not to hold it in, which makes it much more difficult to pass later, leading to and worsening constipation. When you feel the need to go, listen to your body. Holding it in causes your stool to get harder and drier, which makes constipation much worse and more painful later on. Train your gut to go when it says it's time.

Simple Ways To Improve Your Bowel Movements

Go at the Same Time Each Day

Try to create a routine. If you're often straining without success, try sitting on the toilet about 30-60 minutes after a meal, when your colon is naturally more active. A little stretching or a short walk beforehand can also help things get moving.

Use a Stool for Your Feet

The natural position for a bowel movement is squatting. You can mimic this position on a regular toilet by placing a small stool under your feet to raise your knees above your hips. This simple change helps your muscles relax and can make bowel movements easier and more complete.

Focus on Fiber and Fluids

Fiber is essential for creating soft stool that's easy to pass. Most adults should aim for 25 to 35 grams a day. Just remember to add it to your diet slowly. As you increase your fiber, be sure to drink more water and other non-caffeinated fluids, since caffeine can dehydrate you and make stool harder.

When to Seek Help

While these tips are a great starting point, sometimes you need more personalized help. You should talk to your doctor if you notice any of these signs:

• A recent, unexplained change in your bowel habits
• Blood in your stool
• Unexplained stomach pain
• A pelvic health physical therapist can also provide a full evaluation and create a personalized plan to improve your bowel health.