The PCOS Diet

Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is a serious matter that a lot of women have to deal with. This may be a common disorder for women’s endocrine system but finding a solution for it should not be set aside. The PCOS may be initially noticed because of irregular menstruation period but its effects can also be as serious as amenorrhea, difficulty in ovulating resulting to infertility, polycystic ovaries, resistance to insulin causing type 2 diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol levels.

There are numerous medications available for women but one key in resolving this health disorder is to switch to PCOS diet. Since PCOS is a hormonal imbalance, there are ways on how this can be alleviated or even corrected, by simply changing the usual diet.

The main aspects that PCOS diet targets are problems like insulin resistance and high blood pressure. By eating the right types of food, these health problems may be avoided. Aside from that, the diet also consists of all natural and healthy foods. These will enhance women’s fertility by regulating the hormones and resolving imbalances. Best of all, since hormonal imbalance can lead to obesity, the diet will also aid you in preventing fat storage.

Basics of the PCOS diet

The primary aspect that has to be seriously considered when going through the PCOS diet is the amount and type of carbohydrates that is in the food that you eat. Typically, an average person could take in as much as 2000 calories per day. However, this might be significantly reduced to about 1500 calories when dealing with PCOS. Less calories mean less fat for the body to store. Aside from that, it also hinders the development of type 2 diabetes.

It also has to be noted that there are 2 types of carbohydrates—complex and simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates should be avoided because these are known to cause harmful health effects. The body finds it difficult to burn and use these so it contributes to weight gain and cardiovascular problems. Stay away from white wheat, pasta and polished grain products. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates will enable you to sustain energy and allows your metabolism to speed up. Whole wheat bread and pasta is a good substitute. You can also get complex carbohydrates from root crops like potato. However, intake of complex carbohydrates should be limited too.

To avoid binging on calorie-packed foods, make sure to incorporate fruits and vegetables in your PCOS diet. These are perfect for dessert, snacks or even as substitute for a meal. It is recommended to take at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Eating organically grown fruits and vegetable will also avoid intake of too much sugar. Aside from that, your body will benefit a lot from the impressive amount of fiber from these foods which will aid in detoxification.

Foods that have excessive amount of cholesterol, sugar, preservatives and artificial flavouring can certainly make PCOS become worse. These foods have to be avoided and that includes staying away from fast food, preserved meals and soda.