Polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS )is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. It is responsible for 25 to 30% of infertility in women. This type of infertility is mostly anovulatory(when eggs do not release from the ovary). Ovulation can be induced through proper treatment, but the best way is to follow a PCOS fertility diet and switch to a healthy lifestyle.
PCOS diet plan for fertility also alleviates and manages other symptoms of PCOS. In this article, Health Crescent has explained how the PCOS fertility diet works and what is the best PCOS diet plan to improve fertility.
PCOS fertility diet Plan
A diet plan and healthy lifestyle matter the most when it comes to fighting off PCOS. Because what we eat and what we do has a direct impact on our hormones. Hormonal imbalance is a serious threat to women’s health, that’s why doctors recommend losing weight and following a healthy diet plan for PCOS to get pregnant.
Here are some basic rules to follow while selecting food to improve fertility with PCOS.
Switch To Low Carbs Diet
Carbohydrates play a major role in PCOS management. Diet rich in carbs worsen PCOS by enhancing insulin resistance leading to diabetes. Carbohydrates disrupt insulin levels and hence increase fat storage and indirectly promote excessive weight gain. This type of obesity is ultimately responsible for hormonal imbalance and a hurdle to getting pregnant with PCOS. Switching to low carbs diet reduces the risk of getting diabetes and promotes healthy weight loss.
Related: Harms of Added Sugars
Drink More Water
Besides infertility, women with PCOS are prone to several health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, hirsutism, etc. Drinking water prevents many of these problems because drinking sufficient water is part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Water is 100% calories free and suppresses appetite if consumed before meals. Water also prevents carvings, keeps the body hydrated, keeps the brain healthy, and makes you mentally sharp. It also removes excess fats and toxins from the body and thus maintains a healthy weight which is a prerequisite for getting pregnant with PCOS.
Take anti-inflammatory food
Inflammation is one of the most common symptoms of PCOS. Uncontrolled inflammation makes it difficult to conceive with PCOS. But along with healthy lifestyle changes, an anti-inflammatory diet can help you manage to symptoms of PCOS and increase the chances of getting pregnant with PCOS.
Anti-inflammatory foods include :
- Olive oil
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Almonds
- Blueberries
- Omega 3-rich foods
Choose a Low-Calorie diet for PCOS
Low-calorie diet for women with PCOS increases the fertility rate. There is no permanent cure for PCOS except maintaining a healthy lifestyle and choosing a low-caloric and balanced diet to balance hormones naturally.
A low-calorie diet is key to balancing hormones naturally. Low-calorie diet plans for PCOS include:
- Unprocessed foods
- Fiber rich foods
- Green leafy vegetables such as spinach
- Healthy fats such as fish oil
- Fresh vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower
- Dark red fruits such as cherries, red grapes
Spearmint tea for PCOS
Spearmint tea has numerous benefits for PCOS and other hormonal imbalances. Research says that, besides alleviating other symptoms of PCOS, spearmint tea reduces male hormones such as testosterone in women and increases levels of the female hormone that promotes ovulation. These women’s hormones are follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing (LH)hormone, and estrogen.
Related: Spearmint Tea For PCOS
A 5-day research study on 21 women with hormonal imbalance has shown a significant decrease in testosterone(male hormones) in women while increases in FSH, LH, and estradiol. Hence, it can be concluded that spearmint can improve the fertility rate in women with PCOS by its antioxidant properties.
