4: Do You Have PCOS? Criteria, Symptoms & Nutrition - Ava Nouri

Join Patreon to listen to our bonus episode on leptin and PCOS here.

What if everything you’ve been told about PCOS is too simplistic to actually help you heal?



In this episode, I sit down with Ava Nouri, a registered dietitian on my nutrition team who works closely with women navigating PCOS. Her own health journey through fatigue, brain fog, blood sugar issues, and hormone imbalances led her to integrative and functional nutrition, where she now supports clients with the same challenges she faced.

We get into the real spectrum of PCOS, why the conventional boxes don’t fit, and the deeper metabolic and gut factors that drive symptoms. The second half of the conversation unpacks the pro-metabolic movement, what works, what backfires, and why so many women feel stuck trying to make it fit. It’s a raw and nuanced look at one of the most common questions women in my community ask.

You’ll Learn:

• The reason PCOS is more of a metabolic disorder than just a hormone issue
• What happens in the body when insulin resistance drives high androgens and irregular cycles
• The link between gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and worsening PCOS symptoms
• Why so many women with PCOS lose minerals faster and end up depleted
• The damage of excess iron and how it fuels inflammation and gut issues
• What it feels like to follow a pro-metabolic diet that backfires with PCOS
• The missing role of fiber, beans, and vegetables in restoring gut health and hormone balance
• Why one-size-fits-all PCOS protocols rarely work and what to focus on instead
• How mineral testing and stool testing reveal hidden drivers of stubborn symptoms
• The importance of self-experimentation and trusting your body over rigid food rules

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[06:22] Defining PCOS and why the conventional view misses the mark

[13:24] Insulin resistance as the core driver of PCOS symptoms

[16:23] The role of gut health and microbiome imbalances in driving PCOS symptoms

[23:25] How mineral depletion and excess iron fuel inflammation and worsen PCOS symptoms

[39:33] The pro metabolic approach as a nourishing alternative to restriction and fear of food

[42:49] Reframing the pro metabolic approach for PCOS

[58:09] Finding balance with pro metabolic nutrition by avoiding extremes and trusting your body’s feedback

Resources Mentioned:

Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden | Book

Heal Your Metabolism by Kate Deering | Book

Articles and Writings by Ray Peat | Website

The Feminine Periodical Newsletter | Website

Master your minerals. Harmonize your hormones. Start your mineral journey here.

You can work with Ava one on one here.

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