Polycystic ovaries syndrome, or PCOS, is characterized by the body's inability to effectively produce hormones. This can affect your weight, menstrual cycle, fertility and risk of chronic disease. The role of diet for a woman with PCOS is increasingly important because it can lower her risk of developing diseases associated with PCOS.
Significance
If you have PCOS, what you eat matters. According to The National Women's Health Information Center, having PCOS increases your risk of developing diabetes by 50 percent. In addition, your risk of having high cholesterol and hypertension increases when you have PCOS. This means that your risk of having a heart attack increase by four to seven times.
Weight Control
It is not uncommon for women with PCOS to be overweight or obese. In order to improve your PCOS and reduce chronic disease, you should try to control your weight. A calorie-controlled diet paired with regular exercise can improve your PCOS as well as your health. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight may improve your condition.
Carbohydrates
Since women with PCOS are likely to develop diabetes, watching your cabohydrate intake is important. Registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Martha McKittrick emphasizes the importance of carbohydrate intake for a PCOS diet. According to her, a balanced diet that consists of approximately 50 percent of calories from carbohydrates is ideal. For women who are prediabetic or who are facing insulin resistance, only 40 percent of calories should come from carbohydrates. Choosing carbohydrates that come from unprocessed sources is best.
General Recommendations
Recommendations for a diet associated with PCOS do not differ greatly from the suggestions for a well-balanced diet. Limit your intake of saturated fats and refined sugar. Be sure to get an adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals. You should get at least 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of folic acid. Limit carbohydrate intake, and eat in a way that controls the effect that carbs have on your blood glucose. In other words, combine foods in order to eat carbs with added fat and protein.
