Are you suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and are struggling to lose weight??...well you aren’t alone in this struggle. This hormonal condition is believed to affect 7-10% of young women on average and 80%of women with PCOS are overweight! And the first thing ever suggested to them is “LOSE WEIGHT!”. Continue reading to know how a low-Gi diet is good for PCOSand how it contributes to losing PCOS weight gain:
While the exact cause for PCOS remains unknown, scientists indicate a strong link between insulin resistance and PCOS, which is why a low-glycemic diet is helpful. Insulin resistance reduces body’s sensitivity to insulin. Thus, when the blood sugar from the foods one eats enter their cells to be used as energy, the cells become resistant to insulin. This leads the pancreas to keep pumping more and more insulin to enable the insulin to breakthrough the cells.
This excess insulin levels in the bloodstream stimulate the ovaries to produce large amounts of the male hormone testosterone, leading to symptoms such as infertility and ovarian cysts. This buildup of insulin further reaches the liver and gets converted to fat which gets stored throughout the body, leading to weight gain and obesity.
Bringing blood sugar and insulin levels under control isa critical factor in losing weight for individuals with PCOS and following a low-glycemic diet can help lessen blood sugar spikes and keep insulin levels down and reduce the weight gain that results with PCOS.In fact, even without losing weight, simply adopting of a low GI diet can help women regulate their menstrual cycle as well as to help ease some of the symptoms worsened by suffering from PCOS.
Tips for a healthier lifestyle, with a low Gi diet:
1) Choose low-glycemic carbohydrates in the appropriate portion sizes for meals and snacks·
2) Replace refined foods with low Gi or whole foods (unprocessed, grain intact)·
3) Eat unprocessed breakfast cereals(bran, oats, barley)·
4) Replace white potatoes with sweet potatoes·
5) Avoid sugary foods and beverages·
6) Include protein and/or fat in meals and snacks (nuts are a great example)
