PCOS – Some Food Myths

Myth No.1: No Fruit Allowed

Diet cults have made people to believe that all forms of carbohydrates are bad for our body, but this for sure isn’t true for fruits. . Fruits provide our body with a number of important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that offer numerous benefits to us and especially to women with PCOS.

Some benefits could be:-

  1. Cancer prevention
  2. Improved cholesterol levels
  3. Lower blood pressure
  4. Reduced insulin resistance

A study published in the Hormone and Metabolic Research Journal showed that women with PCOS who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lost more abdominal fat and had significant improvements in their insulin sensitivity and inflammatory markers.

Fruits with skin are seen to be better than fruits eaten without the skin as they have a lower glycemic index.

Remember that fruits are carbohydrates, and should be spread out evenly throughout the day. But fruit juice has been a big strict no, as this will quickly spike insulin levels.

Myth No.2: A Gluten-Free Diet Is Best for PCOS

Many women with PCOS think eating gluten-free will help them lose weight faster; however, there is no scientific evidence to support or prove it. They might feel avoiding gluten has made them lose weight, but not is probably due to a lesser amount of calorie intake.

Weight loss, if not completely, but does have a major role in curing PCOS. Many women may feel a better condition, considering it due to a gluten-free diet, but it is probably because they have lost weight.

But not all women with PCOS who follow a gluten-free diet find it helpful to lose weight or improve their symptoms. It completely depends on a human to human and body to body.

Instead, you should be focusing more on eating sensible portions of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein-rich foods that have been proven to help balance out blood sugar, reduce the risk for disease, and help with weight management and also betterment in symptoms of PCOS.

Myth No.3: Avoid all Dairy

Milk is a rich source of calcium and protein and is also considered a carbohydrate due to its high lactose content.

It may be advisable for women with PCOS to limit their dairy intake of yogurt or milk to two or fewer servings per day. You may not need to completely eliminate dairy, you can take it in moderate quantity though unless you have a milk allergy or are highly sensitive to it.

Read More :  Balanced Approach to Balanced diet

Myth NO.4: You Can’t Eat Any Sugar

While desserts and other sugary foods aren’t great for PCOS or in general for your body and should be limited for all but talking about PCOS, they can be part of your diet if enjoyed in moderation. A square or two of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) contains antioxidants and can satisfy a craving. A piece or 2 of dark chocolate can also boost your mood up.

Sometimes being too restrictive with sweets can backfire in a big way with episodes of binge eating which is surely more harmful. So go ahead and indulge your sweet tooth from time to time, but focus on whole foods in sensible portions the majority of your day.

Sugar in all isn’t really good for your body, so restrict it to moderation.

Happy Eating !!