Losing weight and eating right with PCOS can be tough. The PCOS body doesn’t process insulin normally, so a controlled diet should be adhered to remain healthy. But if weight loss isn’t on your agenda, how can a person with PCOS eat right and how different is that diet than what you’re already use to?

The key for PCOS sufferers is the same non-sufferers: Balance. You don’t need to go out and purchase special foods that are only for PCOS sufferers. The best thing you can do is to stick to a diet of veggies, fruit, whole grains and lean meats (stay away from processed foods, this is even more important for women with PCOS). Another good tip is to start reading food labels at the grocery store, if you don’t already. Try to buy foods with high fibre and avoid low fiber foods like regular pasta and white rice.

Reading food labels is just the beginning, however. You have to understand what you’re reading to get the full benefit. Foods that are listed as “fat-free” sound like something you would want to add to your diet, but be careful. Most of the time, these foods are high in sugar, and that can be bad news for women with PCOS. At the same time, foods that are listed as “sugar-free” can still raise your insulin level if they contain high amounts of white baking flour or other high-carb ingredients. The best thing to do to satisfy your sweet tooth is to look for foods like sugar-free Jell-O, diet pop, Crystal Light and sugar-free popsicles because they are not only sugar free, but carb free, as well.

If you can’t stay away from those refined carbs, try to slow them down by adding protein or a little fat. If you have to have bread with dinner, try putting some peanut butter or, even better, hummus on it. The addition of the protein or fat will slow the absorption of the carbs into your blood stream and help keep the insulin levels down, too.

Also, don’t forget that not all fats are created equal. Try to stick with the healthy fats found in foods like nuts, avocados, fish, canola and olive oil, as opposed to foods high in saturated fats such as margarine, cheese, red meat and mayonnaise.

Finally, some common sense tips to keep in mind when it comes to eating right with PCOS. The most important thing is attitude. Don’t get down about not having your favourites and stay positive about what you can have. You will feel better, look better and be happier if you don’t look at your PCOS diet as a burden, but as a chance to try new things and feel healthier.

Try not to get frustrated because you don’t lose weight right away, the goal isn’t necessarily to shed pounds quickly, a healthy diet is a long-term eating plan to keep your body healthy. Lastly, please consult a doctor before you make any drastic changes to your eating habits or patterns. You should already have a doctor helping you with your PCOS, have him or her recommend a dietician who can help put together a diet that will work for you!

Louise Parker has an interest in PCOS. For further information on PCOS please visit PCOS or PCOS Symptoms .

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