Ancient Ingredients For Healing PCOS: Interview With The Founder of Ayurvedic Protein®

As someone who’s deeply passionate about both women’s health and healing through Eastern practices, I was honored to meet Lizzy, the founder of Ayurvedic Protein®. 

She’s one of those bright lights beaming with inspiration and knowledge that's magnetic and I wanted to know everything about her one-of-a-kind Ayurvedic protein powder. Her story begins with a difficult ovarian disorder—PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). After discovering Western medicine wasn’t able to treat Lizzy’s condition, she took her healing into her own hands. 

Below she shares her story of using the ancient practices of Ayurvedic for healing, how she created Ayurvedic Protein®, and she dives into the beautiful and clean ingredients it's made from.

TO BEGIN, WHAT’S YOUR DOSHA AND HOW DO YOU RELATE TO IT? 

My doshic constitution is Vata Pitta. This has helped immensely with understanding why I'm more prone to anxiety, nervousness, bloating, but am creative, alert and sharp. I use my constitution as a general guide toward better choices to maintain balance in my mind and body, but do not obsess about doing every single thing to avoid aggravating vata or pitta. 

So for example, I do have a structured morning and evening practice that involves calming pranayama, grounding asana and kriya, and opt for warmer food and beverages, especially in the colder months. But I don’t worry too much about ordering a vata-pacifying meal everytime I’m out to dinner. 

The best part about this medical system is that although it is vast, it meets you where you are at; you can pick and choose what lifestyle practices to follow based on what resonates with you. Knowing my dosha has allowed me to ask “what would serve me best right now” instead of “what do I crave and need to have now.” So there is an intentional pause to sit with what feels right for my body, in that moment, instead of my ego’s desire for something that wouldn’t be as beneficial to maintain homeostasis. And that’s really empowering.

YOUR JOURNEY OF DISCOVERING AYURVEDA BEGAN WITH HEALING FROM HORMONAL HEALTH. AS SO MANY WOMEN STRUGGLE WITH HORMONE IMBALANCES AND CONDITIONS, CAN YOU SHARE HOW YOU DISCOVERED AYURVEDA AND HOW YOU FOUND HEALING? 

I was told by all of my Western physicians to go on prescription medications to help with symptoms of my ovarian disorder, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). I knew this would only mask the symptoms, but I wanted to heal the root cause.

After my Master Level yoga teacher training in India, I decided to travel to Southern India – Kerala – the Ayurvedic capital of the world to undergo a 21-day panchakarma at an Ayurvedic hospital. 

I was desperate really, to heal. I learned in my yoga teacher training that Ayurveda was the sister-science to yoga, emerged from the Vedas, and literally meant “the science of life.” But I hadn’t really experienced this world of healing yet until this hospital stay.

I was assigned a personal doctor who I met with daily (Dr. Aswathy, who is now Co-creator of Ayurvedic Protein® and my dear friend). I ate mostly a plant-based diet, received medicinal herbs, daily medicated treatments and oil massages, and of course meditation and gentle yoga. And within 21 days, I started feeling better.

CREATING THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, AYURVEDIC PROTEIN POWDER IS NO EASY TASK. WHERE DID YOU START AND HOW DID IT BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY? 

When I returned back to the states, I began a PhD program and was super stressed. My PCOS symptoms (depression, hair loss, weight gain, cystic acne) started coming back as I struggled to find balance. I switched to a plant-based diet which was overwhelming to say the least - I struggled with incorporating all the vegan foods to eat to meet all the daily micro and macro nutrients. 

With PCOS, there’s an emphasis on higher protein diets. And, me being an ex-body builder/triathlete and equestrian—I always knew protein is the go-to to feel satiated, maintain muscle mass and lose body fat. So I naturally opted for plant-based protein powders. But, most made me bloated, some tasted like soil, many weren’t USDA Certified Organic (so, synthetic pesticide and herbicides like glyphosate could be in present); and most could not provide 3rd-party batch testing results.

Testing is absolutely critical because the FDA does not approve supplements, nor are they authorized to approve a supplement for safety, effectiveness, or approve the labeling before the supplements are sold to the public. 

Under the The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the responsibility of a supplement’s safety, quality and labeling claims falls on the companies who manufacture them. So, there’s a huge gray area and many companies do not perform testing at all, or have them done in-house which is biased. So contaminants, allergens, gluten, heavy metals, and microbes can be in these products. I was ready to give up on protein powders all together, until I decided to make my own. 

I experimented with the cleanest, gut-friendly protein blends, added in my Ayurvedic herbs, spices and digestive enzymes, and made a delicious smoothie every day. This smoothie was my little beacon of hope for my healing that I took with me to campus, amid feeling so horrible.

I knew it was one little thing I was doing to better myself during such an overwhelming time. My heart told me that so many other women could benefit from a product like this, so I quit my PhD program to create Ayurvedic Protein®. In fact, I called up my doctor from Kerala, Dr. Aswathy, and asked her to help me co-create the product. She said “of course!” and is the brain behind the selection and dosing of the herbs in our protein powders. 

ARE THERE ANY NOTABLY REWARDING MOMENTS YOU CAN SHARE SINCE STARTING THE AYURVEDIC PROTEIN CO?

Many! Even through all the challenges, the rewarding moments always reveal themselves. 

We’ve been voted top 8 protein powders by VegOut magazine. We were one of three finalists for the national Whole Foods® Accelerator Program. Featured in Allure and Women’s Health magazine, and we’re used by a few celebrities. But the biggest reward is connecting with other women, all around the world, who resonate with this product and use it as a ritual of self-care for their mental and physical health. 

I consider a lot of my customers “soul sisters” because they have shared personal stories of healing, and how our products have helped them considerably. 

THE INGREDIENTS IN YOUR PROTEIN POWDER ARE ORGANIC, PURE, AND ROOTED IN ANCIENT WISDOM. CAN YOU DIVE INTO THE MAGIC OF WHAT'S INSIDE? 

The plant protein blend we use is USDA Certified Organic, pure, clean pumpkin seed, brown rice and pea protein powder because they are easy to digest. 

Three herbs (Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Amalaki) are rasayanas, or rejuvenating herbs, that work synergistically to help balance the body - and this particular combination at the dosage is great for all doshic constitutions. 

Ashwagandha helps combat stress, Bacopa enhances focus and concentration, and Amalaki is immensely immune-boosting. We put in vegan digestive enzymes to help the body absorb, digest and metabolize the protein (since one serving is a whopping 19g protein!). There’s also organic turmeric, cinnamon and ginger – all amazing Ayurvedic spices for healing with high antioxidant properties – that provide a slight spicy flavor, and vanilla as well. 

The recipes on our website also help pacify specific doshas. So depending on how you use our protein, you can further help balance your dosha. Oh yeah, and there’s love! Our products were intentionally created for a happy body and peaceful mind.

We only use USDA Certified Organic ingredients, sustainably-sourced and fairly-traded Ayurvedic herbs and of course have our products undergo 3rd-party batch testing to ensure they are consistently of the highest quality.

FOR THOSE JUST BEGINNING THEIR AYURVEDIC JOURNEY, WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND THEY START? 

Definitely check out our 1-minute Dosha Assessment to discover your unique doshic constitution, and receive some products and recipes that we recommend to help promote balance.

We also have some great blogs on our website, newsletters and social media posts with information. Follow @ayurvedicprotein on IG, Facebook, & Pinterest. 

WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR CONTINUING TO SPREAD THE WORD OF AYURVEDIC HEALING? 

Dr. Aswathy is currently offering Ayurvedic consultations - she’s already seen quite a few customers who have specific health questions.

Also, my biggest intention is to allow Ayurveda to be more accessible and less intimidating. We feature great blogs and newsletters about Ayurveda and Yoga, and how simple changes can really promote longevity and mind/body balance. We’re always looking to spread the word on Podcasts, guest blogs, and social media collaborations. 

Article written by Courtney Jay.  View the Original article here.

Article reposted with permission from Coincide.