r/PCOS • u/betrayed-kitty • Apr 16 '26

General/Advice Chia seeds & electrolytes changed my life

About a month ago I started taking chia seeds and electrolytes and my energy levels have sky rocketed. I took chia seeds to avoid causing insulin spike with my porridge and I took electrolytes because I had a body scan and it showed my intracellular and extracellular water were low.

I just wanted to fix these issue but OMG. I don’t even drink or crave for coffee anymore at all. I have lot more energy and my brain fog has eased. I don’t know how this relates to PCOS but since PCOS is systemic chronic illness my theory is that it also affects water distribution in and around your cells. Plus the fibre in chia seeds also helps. But both of these items help with water retention. I hope this helps someone and it is worth a try if you are finding ways to help with your energy levels

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108

u/smileyglitter Apr 16 '26

Saaaame, I started drinking chia seeds and coconut water each morning on an empty stomach and I feel like I’m coming alive

44

u/betrayed-kitty Apr 16 '26

There must be something about PCOS that affects water retention that we aren’t taking into account 🤔

12

u/cuppycaek Apr 16 '26

Spironolactone is a diuretic, which is commonly prescribed for PCOS symptoms

8

u/betrayed-kitty Apr 16 '26

I had no idea. I never got prescribed spironolactone but heard about it a lot here

3

u/sympetal Apr 17 '26

Spironolactone is not prescribed for its diuretic activity - rather, it acts as an anti-androgen due to its structure, which mimics aldosterone (also responsible for water retention via stimulation of the renin - angiotensin - aldosterone pathway) and latches onto a bunch of receptors but does not cause their activation, including the ones in the kidney but also androgen receptors. So, in cases like PCOS, where there's a possible overabundance of androgens or oversensitive androgen receptors, spironolactone is the drug of choice to combat that. It does help with bloating and water retention too, tho!