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Can diet help with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
PCOS can have a profound detrimental affect on a woman’s life, it has been described as “The thief of womanhood” (Kitzinger & Willmot 2002). Approximately one in ten women in the UK are affected by PCOS.
PCOS is a common female hormonal condition that affects how the ovaries work. It has three main features.
- Irregular periods due to less frequent ovulation. This can make it more difficult to get pregnant for some women.
- A longer than normal gap between menstrual cycles or no cycle at all.
- Infertility problems
Signs and symptoms
- Excess facial hair or just below the belly button
- Acne and oily skin
- Male pattern hair loss
- Weight gain, especially around the middle and difficulty losing weight
- Anxiety and depression
What causes it?
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it often runs in families. However, it’s also related to abnormally high levels of insulin in the body.
How can nutritional therapy help?
Changing how you eat is one of the most important things you can do to manage PCOS. One of the main goal is to reduce insulin levels (a hormone that transport sugar from the blood into the muscles) and help normalise the hormone balance in the body.
Weight loss
Why? Even a small amount of weight loss can improve symptoms of PCOS (BDA, 2016).
Adopt an anti inflammatory Mediterranean diet
Why? A 2012 study showed a reduction in all the exacerbating factors that contribute to the syndrome.
Adopt a low GI diet
Why? To reduce blood sugar spikes and avoid the rollercoaster of high and low energy and mood.
Avoid refined sugar
Why? High sugar diets are linked with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a primary factor in PCOS (The Mayo Clinic, 2017).
Cut back on alcohol intake
Why? Alcohol interferes with oestrogen breakdown leading to negatively unbalanced hormone levels. (Singletary & Gapstur, 2001).
Palm sized piece of protein at each meal
Why? May help promote satiety and decrease sugar cravings (Moon & Koh, 2020).
Support the liver, by increasing fibre.
Why? Supporting the liver may help clear hormones and lead to better hormone balance.
If you suffer from PCOS and any of the above symptoms I can work with you to investigate what your underlying exacerbating factors are that are prolonging the effects of PCOS and help support you with a plan tailored to you.