One in five indian women are affected by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, according to a study conducted by Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. More and more women between the ages of 15-30 have been getting diagnosed, and according to celebrity dietician Rujuta Diwekar, this is because of sedentary lifestyles and processed food.
Here are some common misconceptions people have about PCOS:
1. Women with PCOS have cysts in their ovaries
This is not always the case. PCOS is the diagnosis given to an amalgamation of symptoms. Symptoms include facial hair, acne, thinning of the scalp, weight gain and irregular periods. Women with PCOS tend to have an imbalance of sex hormones which cause these symptoms.
2. Weight Loss is Impossible
This isn't true. Weight gain is just one of the symptoms of PCOS, and may not be present in all cases. Moreover, if you are struggling to lose weight, the problem may be because you are insulin resistant. In that case, consulting with a dietician can help you.
Losing weight will not always relieve you of this condition, and it affects women of all sizes.
3. Women with PCOS cannot have children
The majority of women with PCOS can conceive without the help of medical treatments. And even if you do have cysts in your ovaries, you may still be able to conceive without any problems.
4. I Can't Do Anything About PCOS
PCOS is in large part caused by our sedentary lifestyles and the junk food that we eat. So get out there, exercise and stop eating processed foods.
This girl reversed all the symptoms of PCOS simply by getting healthy.
Here are some nutrition tips from Rujuta Diwekar’s PCOD-Thyroid Book:
- Bananas are the super fruit
- Ghee is good for you since it contains essential acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6
- Unprocessed carbs like bajra, nachni, jowar are a must.
- Curd will help your skin
- Coconut has folic acid which has anti-bacterial properties
- And of course lots and lots of water.
By the way, Diwekar isn’t a fan of all the ‘health food fads’ like cold-pressed juice, and foods with labels that say fat-free and low-fat. She advocates going back to the eating habits our grandparents inculcated.
"If your grandmother doesn't recognize the food you're about to eat, you shouldn't even be touching it."
Also Read: Get a life! Boost your health in 2017 says nutritionist Kavita Devgan