Women with polycystic ovary syndrome often suffer from problems with menstruation, fertility, weight gain and insulin levels. These factors put women at an increased risk of developing health complications such as type-2 diabetes and heart disease. Eating a healthy diet seems to minimize these risks and minimize some of the symptoms.
What is PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that affects one in 10 women, according to Women's Health. This condition is characterized by higher than normal androgen and insulin levels. Women with this condition often have symptoms such as facial hair, weight gain, polycystic ovaries, irregular menstrual periods and lack of ovulation.
Diet and Weight Loss
Since women with PCOS have a slightly increased chance of becoming obese, it is important for them to maintain healthy weight. In addition, having PCOS and gaining weight can increase the chance of developing complications from the condition, such as type-2 diabetes. According to Women's Health, the best way to lose weight is by reducing calories and exercise. Women who manage to lose weight with this condition can restore normal menstruation, restore ovulation, reduce facial hair and reduce the risk for diabetes and heart disease.
Diet for Fertility
Not all women with PCOS suffer from a lack of ovulation, but some may have trouble ovulating due to their ovaries being polycystic. This problem can worsen, if the woman is overweight. For this reason, doctors often suggest losing weight before getting trying to achieve pregnancy. According to Women's Health, losing just 5 to 10 percent of body weight can reverse some symptoms of PCOS, including restoring ovulation and regular menstruation. Incorporating a healthy eating strategy, which includes lots of whole foods and minimal amounts of saturated fats, can have a significant impact on heath and fertility.
Diet for Insulin Control
Some doctors recommend going on a low-glycemic index diet. The glycemic index is designed to rate foods according to the effect they have on insulin. This index rates foods from one to 100; one being low-GI and 100 being high-GI. Low-GI foods have little affect on insulin and high-GI foods cause insulin to increase rapidly. Women with PCOS are often told to refrain from eating carbohydrates, but some are told eating them is okay. Eating carbohydrates such as white flour, white rice or white potatoes causes spikes in insulin; these are considered high-GI carbohydrates and should be avoided. Low-GI carbohydrate options such as wheat bread, brown rice and quinoa cause little change in insulin and they contain lots of heart healthy dietary fiber.
