PCOs is one of the common problem faced by many girls in this modern world. A PCOS diet is crucial role in the management of PCOS, not only for weight loss and maintenance, but also to regulate insulin levels. Many women with PCOS are resistant to insulin, resulting in the pancreas producing more insulin in order to be effective.
Insulin is an important hormone as it transports sugar from the blood into the muscles of the body, allowing the body to effectively make use of the energy from glucose. High insulin levels wreak havoc on the body, leading to a lot of the symptoms of PCOS like, increased hair growth, weight gain, acne, fatty liver and high cholesterol, polycystic ovaries and an irregular menstrual cycle, not to mention increased hunger levels and cravings. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? So, management of blood insulin levels is crucial in the management of PCOS. Refined carbohydrates cause a spike in insulin levels and should therefore be avoided. Also, foods that are high in fat will lead to weight gain and high cholesterol. Foods that have a high GI result in a quick rise in blood sugar levels.
Insulin levels follow suit to deal with the glucose in the bloodstream. Generally, high GI foods have been processed to remove fibre and other nutrients so they may be tasty but they are high in calories while lacking in nutrients. Some examples of high GI foods to avoid: white rice, white potatoes, white bread, rice cakes, muffins and cakes. Saturated, hydrogenated and trans fats are all fats that should be avoided. Saturated fats, found in red meat and dairy products, cause an increase in estrogenic production, hinder the absorption of some nutrients and can cause weight gain.