Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) is a medical condition that causes hormonal imbalance in the metabolism of women. It is a common health condition that is experienced by 10% of women of reproductive age. PCOD can lead to serious health issues like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, depression, cancer, etc. However, there are some PCOD problem treatment plans that can be followed to improve this condition, including lifestyle changes and an optimum PCOD Diet.
Coming to the diet, the weight management and insulin in the body are directly affected by the food we take. Here, in PCOD, maintaining the weight and Insulin levels can considerably help PCOD patients.
Let us now discuss the essential PCOD foods to have in detail.
Foods to Have in PCOD - Diets
There is no standard diet for PCOD that is precisely made to alleviate PCOD problems. However, PCOD can be cured or managed by having several healthy foods. Here are some beneficial diets to follow.
- A Low GI Diet
Our body tends to digest food slowly with a low glycemic index. A low GI diet will help you to manage the insulin levels in the body. The foods include grains, legumes, seeds, fruits, nuts, vegetables containing starch, unprocessed foods, etc.
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet
There are a number of anti-inflammatory foods like berries, fatty fish, leafy green vegetables, etc., which helps reduce inflammatory symptoms like fatigue and dizziness.
- DASH Diet
Many doctors recommend women use the DASH (Dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet in order to reduce the risk of heart diseases. The diet helps in managing PCOD symptoms. The DASH diet is rich in fish, poultry, dairy products, whole grain, and much more.
Over the past few years, it has been seen that women who have followed these PCOD diet plans saw a reduction in belly fat and insulin resistance as compared to others who are trying to manage PCOD.
Apart from these diets, there are other foods as well that you may have in PCOD.
- Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, sardines, etc
- High-fiber foods
- Kale, spinach, and dark green leafy vegetables
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Dark red fruits like grapes, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, etc
- Healthy fats like coconut, avocado, and olive oil
- Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, etc
- Dark chocolate
- Spices like turmeric and cinnamon in everyday food to be made
Foods To Avoid in PCOD
- Refined carbohydrates
- White bread
- Pastries
- Fried food
- Soda
- Energy drink
- Processed meat like hot dogs, sausages, etc
- Excess red meat
- Steak
- Hamburger
- Pork
Make sure to avoid the food items mentioned above if you wish to manage your PCOD.
Lifestyle Changes
Along with a proper diet, you must also inculcate some lifestyle changes that will help you handle the PCOD symptoms. Getting up early, having enough sleep, drinking more water, exercising daily, jogging in the early morning, being positive, and having regular checkups are some of the changes that will help in PCOD.
Interestingly, combining diet and physical exercise can lead to the following benefits:
- Enhanced insulin metabolism
- Weight loss
- Regular periods
- Reduced levels of cholesterol
- Less amount of male hormones
- Reduced Hair Growth
Physical activities will help you reduce stress and get enough sleep and time to relax. Always keep in touch with the doctors as they can effectively provide you with PCOD problem treatment along with a diet plan. The sooner you begin the treatment, the better you will feel. Also, remember to do physical exercises to keep yourself fit and healthy. Achieving a healthy weight can improve the quality of your life.
