PCOS and Dieting: Learn the Healthy Tips

Losing weight is hard as hell compared to gaining weight especially if you are a PCOS sufferer. PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age affecting approximately 5-10%. It is an imbalance in several sex hormones that is why women having the disorder experience the following symptoms like irregular or absent menstrual periods, infertility, obesity or being overweight, excess facial and body hair or hirsutism, loss of hair on the top of the head and acne.

PCOS is a condition which affects a person both physically and mentally. And due to the fact that it can cause infertility, women tend to be become depressed anxious. Women having PCOS are said to be at risk for acquiring diabetes, heart attack and hypertension.

Because of these, women always question the relationship between PCOS and dieting and what it can do to improve their condition.

Lifestyle changes

What is the relationship between PCOS and dieting? Women who suffer from this condition are mostly obese that is why they tend to ask what the proper diet should be for them. Although some women with PCOS are thin, the majority have a weight problem and they seem to gain weight no matter what they do. Due to this, women would tend to follow some diet plans which have promising results. Many of these do not provide enough data to back up their claims and others are also very difficult to maintain. Usually most women would go back to their old ways of eating after they have lost some weight. This is particularly true to women with PCOS. Since PCOS and dieting is very difficult to solve especially the weight loss that you need to do, many women try different diet plans.

The top four lifestyle changes that you need to practice when you have the disorder are eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, trying to lose weight and reducing opportunities for stress and anxiety.

Most women who have PCOS also suffer from insulin resistance. Due to insulin resistance, the body acts by resisting the effects of insulin thus it produces more to compensate. The continuously high levels of insulin is responsible to keep blood sugar levels low which results to cravings for sugary carbohydrates leading to weight gain. Insulin resistance also increases the insulin levels in the body which affects the ovulation process. According to a study, women who have insulin resistance are prone to have a miscarriage due to the imbalanced insulin levels which is responsible for the embryo to attach properly to the uterus. Dieting for PCOS is a crucial step to improve your condition and to start the proper diet today is very important.

In order for your goal to be successful, here are some guidelines and tips for PCOS and dieting the healthy way. Junk food is not good for you, so you better get rid of them. It is also necessary that you improve the quality and type of carbohydrates you consume and change the dietary fats you take in. Eating a lot vegetables and controlling your meal portions are also important. Follow the steps to healthy dieting and improve PCOS in no time.

• Balance your daily intake of protein and carbohydrates. Balancing your intake of these food groups will prevent insulin imbalances, thus increasing your fertility. Choosing the type of carbohydrates that you eat is very important. It is necessary that you choose whole grain, or sprouted grain products since these contain more protein and fiber.
• Choose to eat low glycemic index foods. These are carbohydrates which break down slowly in the body. Foods that you should avoid include sugary and starchy foods like pancakes, syrups, sugar, white potatoes, jams, scones, white bread products and pasta.
• Practice eating a high fiber diet. PCOS and dieting with fiber helps in two ways. First, it helps by slowing down the digestion of sugars in the body. Next, it helps by removing excess estrogens from the body which can normalize your hormonal levels.
• Do not go on a diet. It is highly recommended that you eat five meals a day. Eating more often will prevent fasting since fasting causes the metabolism to be become imbalanced.
• Include essential fatty acids in your intake daily. Eating foods containing these fatty acids helps lose weight, produce balanced hormones and create a healthy environment for conception.
• Have a regular exercise. It is recommended that you exercise for 30 minutes five times a week since this improves your insulin sensitivity, thus increases your metabolism and helps shed off excess weight.
• Stop drinking coffee. Coffee is rich in caffeine which increases estrogen levels. It is necessary that you start quitting coffee since this can aggravate your condition.

PCOS disorder weight loss treatment is all about eating the right kind of foods together with proper exercise is essential in keeping your mind and body healthy.

Article Source: Ezine Articles