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What should I eat with PCOS?

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2 fertility expert(s) answered this question

Answer from: Xanthi Maragkoudaki, MSc, ANutr, PhD

Dietician / nutritionist, Lecturer in Nutrition and Public Health at University of Westminster
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Yes, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome interestingly traditionally it was a condition due to undernutrition. In only recent years, with the development, with the rise of obesity, that we have actually observed that in obese women as well and it’s a matter of “did the egg make the chicken or the chicken made the egg” so, it is a condition that we’re not really sure which one is causing what. However, the introduction of specific foods will help a lot with the management of the condition and on top of it will help improve fertility greatly. It has been shown that reduction of weight helps when it comes to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome but as well just the introduction of fiber and the regulation of blood sugars could also impact fertility greatly.

Answer from: Kate Davies, RN, BSc (Hons), FP Cert

Nurse, Independent Fertility Nurse Consultant & Coach at Fertility Industry Consultancy & Podcast Co-Host
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The best diet for PCOS is a diet that is full of fruit and vegetables. I like to talk about eating a rainbow, so you’re eating a whole good quality of different types of fruits and vegetables. But you also have many whole grains in there as well, so you are eating a diet that you can eat whole grain bread, brown pasta and brown rice, therefore avoiding anything white, beige and gray, that is a really easy way to look at it. Obviously you will need some protein in your diet, so I truly encourage women to include all different types of protein in their diet. You may want to keep your red meat intake low but you can enjoy chicken, turkey, eggs, all are really good ways of ensuring that protein intake. Some women decide to be dairy free when they have PCOS but actually, unless you are lactose intolerant or gluten free, you shouldn’t cut out important food groups. So don’t cut out your dairy, don’t cut out gluten unless you are intolerant to those aspects. So it is important to have a really nice, balanced diet, lot’s of fruit and veg, keeping your carbohydrates and your sugars, so your refined carbohydrates- things that we really want to eat such as cakes, biscuits and crisps- low. But overall enjoying a very wide, varied and balanced diet.

 

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What is best diet for PCOS?

Insulin resistance makes life very challenging but manageable. Dietary and lifestyle changes are necessary to avoid serious health problems related with obesity for example. What are general guidelines?

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