By: Vaishnavi Raju | Date: October 28, 2020

Best PCOS Diet Plan: What To Eat & What Not To Eat

"A good diet can go a long way in controlling the symptoms of PCOS. Below is a list of foods to eat and avoid."

If you are suffering from irregular periods and sudden weight gain, it may be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS affects millions of women of reproductive age worldwide. 70% of women are not even aware of this PCOS condition. PCOS Diet and exercise play an important role in relieving symptoms. The best diet for PCOS weight loss should have lots of fiber.

PCOS Diet Plan

In this article, we will explain to you the causes of PCOS and the Best PCOS diet plan for women.
PCOS is a condition in which women have an imbalance of reproductive hormones. The ovaries produce an excess of male hormone, testosterone and there is a lack of female hormone estrogen.

PCOS alters regular ovulation. When the eggs are not released every month, they swell and form a cluster around the ovaries. Clusters form a cyst. Many women with PCOS are resistant to insulin. This results in the production of more insulin. Excess insulin gets deposited in the cells in the form of fat. Weight gain in PCOS worsens symptoms and increases hunger cravings.

What are the causes of PCOS?

The excessive production of male hormones obstructs the production of female hormones. Thus the ovaries of the women suffering from PCOS do not make an egg. PCOS hinders pregnancy by causing infertility. Three factors may be the cause behind PCOS. They are as follows:

Genes

Those women who have a family history of PCOS are at a higher risk. Many genes work together to cause this condition.

Insulin resistance

The body cells of those affected with PCOS do not use insulin properly. This will instigate the pancreas to produce more insulin. Excess insulin in the body produces more male hormones causing severe symptoms. Obesity is an important factor that may cause insulin resistance.

Inflammation

Inflammation in women leads to the production of more male hormones. Excess male hormone creates more inflammation thus worsening the PCOS symptoms.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

For curing PCOS, diet and exercise are very crucial. PCOS shows many symptoms. They are as follows:

• Irregular or absence of periods
• Unwanted hair growth on face and body
• Thinning of hair from scalp
• Problems in getting pregnant
• Oily, acne-prone skin
• Pelvic pain
• Changes in skin pigment
• Frequent mood changes
• Weight gain around the waist

How PCOS affects women?

Having a higher level of male hormone in the ovaries can affect a woman’s quality of life adversely. It causes infertility and other discomforts to the body.

PCOS and pregnancy

PCOS makes pregnancy tough. For getting pregnant you have to ovulate. Women who don’t ovulate regularly don’t release eggs to be fertilized.

Metabolic syndrome

Women suffering from PCOS are overweight or obese. Both obesity and PCOS increases blood sugar and blood pressure in the body. This metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Sleep apnea

PCOS and obesity cause repeated pauses in breathing during the night which interrupts sleep.

Endometrial cancer

During ovulation, the uterine lining sheds. PCOS causes the lining to build up and a thick lining can increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

Depression

PCOS causes unwanted hair growth and baldness to instigate anxiety. This anxiety slowly leads to depression.

What is the best PCOS diet plan chart?

Polycystic ovary syndrome diet and exercise can help to relieve the condition. The best diet for PCOS weight loss contains a lot of fiber. PCOS treatment diet should be rich in vegetables and fruits. Supplement inositol taken during PCOS can be also helpful. Best foods for PCOS contain whole grains like pulses, lentils, and beans.

The best fruits for PCOS are those which are low in fructose. They include lime, lemon, strawberries, and blackberries. Keto diet can be helpful in PCOS because it does not contain carbs and are high in protein. A Keto diet for PCOS helps in weight loss and thus relieves the symptoms.

Foods to avoid during PCOS

Women with PCOS should avoid foods like red meat, fried food, processed foods, carbonated drinks, and sodas. Refined carbs like ice-cream, pastries, white potatoes, and sugary desserts should be avoided.

PCOS Indian diet plan to get pregnant is as follows:

The Bottom line

Women suffering from PCOS can combat this issue and lead a healthy life. The right PCOS diet and exercise plan can help to relieve the symptoms of PCOS. The PCOS food list should be full of vegetables, seeds, and fruits. While preparing your PCOS diet chart exclude processed foods that spike blood sugar.