Gynaecological Guide to Fight PCOS with Diet and Nutrition

 

One of the most common gynaecological issues among Indian women today is PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), which affects 1 out of 10 women on average. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a health condition characterised by irregular periods or no periods and typically results in the formation of multiple cysts in the ovaries.

PCOS is a health condition that leads to several body changes like weight gain, high insulin levels, excessive hunger, hair fall, acne, facial hair, etc. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, you must take extra care, follow a diet, and include nutrients that can help manage the condition. To understand the condition and its role with food, we had a conversation with Dr. Elsa, a Pcos Specialist in Dubai, to understand what to eat and what to avoid during PCOS.

Women with PCOS have higher than normal insulin levels that turn sugar into energy, and if the insulin is not enough, the blood sugar levels start to rise. A diet that is high in refined carbohydrates and includes starchy or sugary foods can make it more difficult to manage, so follow the below-mentioned list of foods to eat and avoid in your PCOS diet.

Food to Include

A proper diet with nutrients, low carbohydrates, and high protein helps in managing polycystic ovary syndrome. Add food items like

1. Greens: Add green leafy food items to your diet like spinach, cabbage, kale, broccoli, etc., which helps in increasing the number of vitamins.
2. Whole grains: Add whole-grain food items to your diet that have fibre-like rye, buckwheat, and others that release carbohydrates in your body and do not cause a spike in your sugar level.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids: Add food items that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and help regulate the menstrual cycle by regulating your hormones. Opt for food items like flaxseeds, chia seeds, etc.
4. Oats: Opt for oats and try to maintain the sugar level as it is rich in fiber content and helps keep the bowels regular.
5. Vitamin-D enriched food: Opt for and consume food that is rich in vitamin D. Add food items like fish, eggs, meat, and other vitamin-D enriched food items.

Food to Cut-Off

To limit or avoid foods with refined carbohydrates, sugary foods, and inflammatory foods and manage PCOS symptoms, follow the below-mentioned list.

1. Processed foods: Limit food items that are processed in nature as they have a high GI linked to an increase in insulin levels that leads to diabetes. The food items to limit are cheese, tinned vegetables, and meat products like salami, bacon, etc.
2. Sugary foods: As PCOS is linked to an increase in insulin levels, leading to problems like diabetes, you are always advised to avoid more consumption of sugary foods like cakes, puddings, shakes, etc.
3. Unhealthy fats: saturated fats or hydrogenated fats help increase the estrogen level and make the condition of PCOS more severe. Avoid unhealthy fat food items like butter, beef fat, pork fat, etc.
4. Gluten: Limit yourself to the consumption of foods containing gluten like wheat, rye, barley, etc.