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PolyBiotics was created by someone who has PCOS who was fed up with her complex morning pill routine
Scientifically, there is no agreed “PCOS/PMOS belly”.
Yet when people say the phrase, they often want you to picture one very specific body type. Usually an apron belly. And that becomes a stereotype women start measuring themselves against.
Some women with PCOS/PMOS (polycystic o***y syndrome/polyendocrine metabolic o***y syndrome) carry more weight around the abdomen. Some don’t. Some are slim. Some are midsize. Some have insulin resistance. Some don’t.
Bodies are more complex than internet buzzwords.
I understand what people are often trying to describe. In some cases, increased abdominal fat distribution can be linked to metabolic dysfunction or insulin resistance. But reducing millions of women with PCOS/PMOS to a single “PCOS belly” oversimplifies a complex condition and quietly feeds shame.
“PCOS belly” rolls off the tongue more easily than “abdominal weight gain associated with metabolic dysfunction”. And unfortunately, catchy phrases are easier to market when insecurity is involved.
Women deserve better than being turned into before-and-after archetypes.
Does eating cultural foods cause diabetes? A great page to check out is .nutritionist stop believing your cultural foods are the cause when the medical system, inequality and history play a big role.
One of the biggest things I learnt?
The ratio many of us were told was “physiological” was based on mixed data from men and women — not female-specific physiology alone.
I also learnt how much power large pharmaceutical and commercial interests can hold in women’s health spaces, and how important it is that independent voices continue asking questions.
Most importantly, I learnt that I was far stronger than I thought I was.
There were moments I felt exhausted, intimidated, and pressured into staying quiet. But I realised that protecting your voice matters.
Thank you to everyone who supported PolyBiotics through one of the hardest years we’ve faced.
17/05/2026
🌙Your 8 hours is not his 8 hours. And the research is clear about why.
Most sleep advice was built on research done predominantly on men. The female body has different needs, different cycles, and different consequences when sleep is lost.
In this week's PolyBiotics Journal I broke down what sleep actually does for women's bodies, what poor sleep is really costing you, and the practical changes that make a real difference this summer.
Save this post for later.
Read the full piece in our Polybiotics journal (link in bio).
15/05/2026
Which magnesium is best for women?
Why we love magnesium glycinate.
Magnesium comes in many forms. Each is absorbed differently and supports different things:
🌙 Glycinate - bound to glycine, gentle on digestion, often used for relaxation and supporting nervous system function
🍋 Citrate - decent absorption, often used to support digestion, can cause tummy upset.
💊 Oxide - the cheapest form, poorly absorbed by the body
💪 Malate - often associated with muscle function and energy
🧠 Threonate - studied for cognitive function
❤️ Taurate - often associated with heart health
For women navigating stress, hormonal fluctuations, and the depletion of modern life, glycinate is one of the most useful forms.
One thing most brands do not advertise: many magnesium glycinate supplements are buffered. That means the glycinate is combined with cheaper magnesium oxide to cut costs. You think you are getting pure glycinate but you are getting a mix that is poorly absorbed.
Ours is unbuffered. Pure magnesium glycinate. The form your body can actually use.
Magnesium contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
13/05/2026
Heat takes more from you than you think. As the days warm and lengthen, you sweat more. Sweat does not just contain water. It contains magnesium. Most women never replace what they lose. Magnesium contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. When levels drop, you feel it. The spring slump is not laziness. It is depletion.
Foods worth adding to your day:
🎃 Pumpkin seeds
🍫 Dark chocolate
🥬 Spinach
🌰 Almonds
🥑 Avocado
🫘 Black beans
A full breakdown is coming this Friday on the PolyBiotics Journal. Save this post so you do not miss it.
12/05/2026
PCOS has a new name. PMOS. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.
I don’t want to ignore the hard work this took and I’m sure many discussions.
And honestly? The science behind the rename makes sense. Removing “cystic” removes a misnomer. Adding “metabolic” reflects what this condition actually does to the body.
But I have some thoughts.
As a doctor, I know that renaming a condition doesn’t retrain the clinicians managing it. It doesn’t fund the research that’s been underprioritised for decades. And it doesn’t help the patient sitting in a GP appointment trying to explain their diagnosis using a name their doctor hasn’t adopted yet.
170 million women have this condition. It is still one of the most under-researched disorders relative to how many people it affects.
Swipe through for my full take.
🔬 What the rename gets right
📉 What it doesn’t fix
🔄 Why the transition period worries me
🫀 Why “ovarian” is still the wrong frame
📢 What actually needs to change
Save this if you or someone you know has PCOS/PMOS. The conversation is just getting started.
11/05/2026
Living la dolce vita? 🍋 Most sleep advice ignores what happens to women's bodies in summer. Sunrise before 5am cuts your final restorative hours short. Warmer nights prevent the core temperature drop your body needs for deep sleep. Sweat depletes magnesium most women never replace. The cumulative effect is a kind of fatigue no green juice will fix. Spring and summer should make you feel better. For most women, the opposite is true. And the reasons are biological, not behavioural. A full breakdown coming on the PolyBiotics Journal this week. Save this post so you do not miss it.
I promise dr Amina isn’t a meanie
Protein gets a lot of attention — and rightly so. It supports muscle, recovery, and helps keep you full.
But fibre is doing quiet, powerful work that’s often overlooked.
Fibre slows the absorption of glucose, helping to keep blood sugar levels more stable rather than spiking and crashing. That steady curve matters — not just for energy, but for appetite regulation too. It also supports satiety pathways like GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), helping you feel fuller for longer.
It plays a role in hormone balance too, supporting the clearance of excess oestrogen through the gut.
And of course — gut health. Fibre feeds beneficial bacteria, which then produce compounds that influence metabolism, inflammation, and overall health.
Aim for ~30g of fibre a day. Most people aren’t even close.
Some easy ways to build it in:
• Chia seeds (add to yoghurt, oats, smoothies)
• Ground flaxseed
• Oats
• Lentils and chickpeas
• Berries (raspberries are particularly high)
• Avocado
• Vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and leafy greens
• Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa
• Nuts and seeds
Protein builds the structure. Fibre supports the system.
You don’t need to choose — you need both.
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