Excess production of male hormones, or androgens, trigger the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. This condition can result in ovaries on the cysts, menstrual irregularities, acne and excess hair growth. Many women with this condition are overweight; regardless of weight, all women with PCOS would benefit from certain dietary changes that could influence symptoms, control weight gain and reduce the already increased risk that PCOS carries for conditions heavily influenced by diet.
PCOS and Insulin
Your body uses carbohydrates to make glucose, your body's primary energy source. To move glucose into the cells, your pancreas releases the hormone insulin. If your body cannot use insulin efficiently, it must produce more to complete this task. Excess insulin leads to excess glucose moving into the cells; what your body does not need, it stores as fat.
Importance of Diet
Following certain dietary strategies will benefit PCOS for myriad reasons. First, eating foods that promote stable blood sugar will reduce the amount of insulin your body needs to release--this will help the aforementioned weight gain as well as reduce the trigger for excess androgen production. MayoClinic.com explains that while the exact causes of this condition remain unknown, excess insulin appears to trigger the production of excess androgens.
If you have PCOS, you have an increased risk for serious health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. Eating in a way to reduce these problems will reduce risk as well as contribute to healthy weight.
Carbohydrate Intake
No official recommendations exist for carbohydrate intake as it relates to PCOS. Martha McKittrick, a registered dietitian writing for ObGyn.net explains that Dr. Walter Futterweit of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a doctor treating PCOS for over two decades, makes carbohydrate recommendations based on weight. He advises women of a normal weight to keep carbohydrates to about 50 percent of daily intake while overweight PCOS-suffers should reduce it to 40 percent or less. Work with your doctor to monitor symptoms and diet to determine the amount that works for you.
Carbohydrate Guidelines
Since carbohydrates exert the greatest impact on blood sugar, you want to monitor the types you consume. Quick-burning carbohydrates like refined, white flour breads and pastas and sugary foods and drinks lead to large spikes in blood sugar and the subsequent release of insulin. You also want to watch your intake of high carbohydrate starchy foods like potatoes and corn. Their high carbohydrate content can also lead to blood sugar spikes--these foods however, offer other health benefits and you do not need to completely eliminate them but eat them in moderation.
Choose whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice and low-carbohydrate vegetables like broccoli, leafy greens, spinach, peppers and onions to name a few.
McKittrick also recommends eating carbohydrates with fats and protein to temper their breakdown as well as spacing out consumption throughout the day rather than eating the bulk of your daily intake at once.
Warnings
Any diet that advocates low carbohydrates runs the risk of containing excess amounts of fat, particularly saturated fat. McKittrick notes that some low-carb diets glean up to 60 percent of daily caloric intake from fat; while some fats are good for you, she warns that most of it comes from animal proteins high in saturated fat. MayoClinic.com warns that these sorts of diets can increase your already elevated chances of developing high cholesterol and heart disease. Choose lean proteins like fish, chicken, turkey and lean cuts of red meat like sirloin and flank steak. Eat more plant proteins like beans and soy.
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