There is a great deal of advice by medical experts and others about how to become pregnant if you have PCOS. One interesting theory that requires no medical intervention is to change your diet. Some people highly recommend a diet change for women with PCOS in order to stimulate spontaneous ovulation and to make the chances for becoming pregnant more likely.
Benefits of the PCOS Diet for Pregnancy
This diet is said to increase the rate of natural and spontaneous ovulation. It improves the environment in the uterus and helps to prepare the body for healthy conception. It is said to decrease the risk of miscarriage and to prevent PCOS patients from becoming diabetic.
How the Diet Works
The diet includes many common sense recommendations that can certainly help to make anyone healthier. These techniques are said to be particularly helpful for a woman with PCOS, and to help her to become ready for pregnancy.
Balance Protein and Carbs
The first step is to balance your daily intake of protein with your daily intake of carbohydrates. If you keep these at a relatively equal level, your insulin levels should stabilize and you should eliminate any insulin rushes. Balanced insulin may increase your fertility levels. It is important, when selecting carbohydrates, to stick to whole grain products that are full of fiber. Avoid white carbohydrates and processed products which can cause insulin levels to spike and which provide very little nutrients. In addition, select carbohydrates with a low glycemic index level since these foods break down slowly in the body and don’t cause an insulin spike. Such foods include vegetables, whole grains, unprocessed foods and foods with plenty of fiber.
Get Your Fiber
Fiber helps to counteract PCOS in two main ways. It slows down the digestion of sugars in the body so that the insulin levels will remain stable. They also remove extra estrogens from the body, which can help to reduce fibroids.
Five Meals a Day Keeps PCOS Away
Eating more often allows the body to continually feel full. The body won’t go into fasting mode and create an imbalance in metabolism. These meals should include three regular meals and two healthy snacks. The first snack should be in the mid-morning and the second one should be less than one hour before bedtime.
Get Those Fatty Acids
Make sure to have fatty acids in your diet; this can help with weight loss, balanced hormones, and a healthy environment for conception.
Two create sources of fatty acids are fish oils and evening primrose oil. These come in capsule form and can be purchased at health food stores. Take either 1 MorDHA capsule each day or 1500 mg of Evening Primrose Oil from day one of your cycle (when you menstruate) through ovulation. You can use this in addition to flax oil or cod liver oil.
Exercise for PCOS
Everyone can benefit from exercise. For someone with PCOS, exercise helps to increase metabolism, helps with insulin sensitivity, and helps with weight loss.
Researchers have shown that people who did both aerobic and resistance exercises showed more improvement in insulin sensitivity than did those who used aerobic exercise only. Exercise should be for at least 20 minutes a day five days a week.
Banish the Coffee
Sorry to say, but caffeine is terrible for women with PCOS (and for everyone else!). Caffeine increases estrogen levels. Studies have shown that just two cups of coffee a day can boost levels of estradiol, a natural estrogen, a significant amount.
Caffeine may also contribute to an increased percentage of miscarriages, which is certainly an issue should you finally be able to conceive.
Using this diet, or one similar to it, can certainly help you to feel great. You’ll lose weight, gain muscle tone and feel fit. In addition, it is a method to help to regulate your insulin levels and to help women with PCOS to become pregnant.
It’s certainly worth a try – as it can’t hurt to get fit and healthy!
