As many as 5 to 10 percent of American women are affected by PCOS, an abbreviation that refers to polycystic ovary syndrome. This condition may be characterized by irregular periods, the presence of cysts on the ovaries, hair on the face, weight gain and inability to lose weight as well as fertility problems. The underlying feature of PCOS appears to be insulin resistance, which means that the body's cells are not sensitive to the action of insulin which results in the overproduction of insulin by the pancreas. Insulin resistance and the consequently high levels of insulin seen with PCOS are thought to be responsible for the hormonal imbalance and associated symptoms experienced by these women.
The Atkins Diet Program
The Atkins diet program consists in a low-carb diet divided into four different phases. The first phase is called the induction phase and aims at jumpstarting your weight loss by helping your body learn how to burn fat instead of burning carbohydrates. The induction phase is the most restrictive and limits carbohydrates to 20 g a day. After having lost a significant amount of weight, you can move to the second phase, called the ongoing weight loss phase, by slowly increasing your daily carb intake by 5g a day each week until you find the optimal carb intake that allows you to lose weight more gradually. When you get closer to your desired weight, within 10 lbs., you can move to the third phase, called pre-maintenance, by upping your daily carb intake by 10 g a week until you find the right amount of carb that will allow you to lose the remaining of your excess weight at a slower pace. Finally, the fourth and last phase is the maintenance phase where you continue to eat the optimal amount of carbohydrate found in the third phase, although this target may need to be adjusted with time.
Low-Carb Diets and PCOS
Low-carb diets can be particularly helpful for women with PCOS. Eating carbohydrate-rich foods stimulate the release of large quantities of insulin in women with PCOS, which contribute to the hormonal imbalances responsible for the unpleasant symptoms associated with PCOS. Therefore, lowering your carbohydrate intake within the low-carb range, which is usually between 20 and 150 g a day with the Atkins diet, can help decrease the circulating levels of insulin and restore the hormonal balance.
Atkins and PCOS-Related Symptoms
Dr. Atkins, in his book, explained how low-carb diets such as the Atkins diet constitute a natural treatment for the relief of PCOS-associated symptoms. By controlling the carbohydrate intake, insulin levels are lowered and many hormones are then restored closer to normal levels. Many women following the Atkins diet experience a normalization of their periods, a decrease in the number of hairs on their face, less acne, less cysts on the ovaries, improved mood, decreased cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. Moreover, women can become pregnant successfully once they lower their carbohydrate intake.
Atkins and Healthy Weight
More than half of the women diagnosed with PCOS are overweight or obese, because their high levels of insulin promote fat storage while inhibiting fat burning. Following a low-carb Atkins diet helps to deal with this hyperinsulinemia, or high insulin in the blood, and can therefore help women with PCOS to reach and maintain a healthy weight, if they comply with the diet plan. A pilot study published in "Nutrition & Metabolism" showed that following the induction phase of the Atkins diet, with a daily intake of 20 g of carbohydrate a day, resulted in a 12 percent weight loss after 24 weeks.
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