PCOS or Polycystic Syndrome is something that we have all heard about and is the most common metabolic and endocrinopathies disorder found in women that depends upon a person’s lifestyle conditions. Changing some small things in your lifestyle habits can actually do wonders and can be really beneficial for your overall health and will help you to stay fit. Here are simple lifestyle swaps that you can opt for inorder to treat your PCOS symptoms.
Some Simple Lifestyle Swaps For PCOS
Here are 5 simple lifestyle swaps that you can opt for inorder to treat your PCOS symptoms and to avoid many other chronic diseases
1. Oils
Seed and refined oils such as canola oil, palm oil, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, palm kernel oil and soybean oil are some of the oils which are considered to be unhealthy due to the presence of omega 6 fatty acids in them. These omega 6 fatty acids are responsible for causing inflammation and which is the reason behind hormonal imbalance and insulin problems in PCOS.
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Also Read: 5 Natural Remedies To Reverse PCOS Symptoms
If suffering from PCOS one can opt for oils like olive oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil. These oils are considered to be healthy and can help you to reduce the symptoms of PCOS as they are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that they are used by the body to build the cell membrane, play a vital role in blood clotting, helps in muscle movement, controls inflammation and optimizes your cholesterol.
2. Sugar
Sugar is considered to be one of the biggest enemies for all the people who suffer from the polycystic ovarian syndrome and yet they are the ones who crave sugary foods and desserts. Although we cannot help you to control your urge to eat sweets and desserts but can provide you with an ultimate swap which would not increase your blood sugar levels, insulin levels and will help you to reduce the male hormone levels in the body. Swap your refined sugar with some natural substitutes such as coconut sugar, Stevia, maple syrup and raw honey.
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These natural sugar substitutes are sweeteners which may contain some nutrients which makes them a little less harmful than your regular refined sugar.
Coconut Sugar- Extracted from the sap of coconut palm, coconut sugar consists of vitamins such as potassium, iron, zinc and calcium. It has a lower glycemic index as compared to the regular refined sugar due to its insulin content.
Maple Syrup- Prepared by cooking down the sap of a maple tree, maple syrup is a thick, sugary liquid which consists of some minerals like iron, calcium, manganese, potassium and zinc. Maple syrup is considered to be a healthy alternative to refined sugar as along with all the mineral content it also has some antioxidant properties which is said to be more than that in honey.
Raw Honey- Produced by the honey bees, this thick, sweet, golden liquid is known for its numerous health benefits and has been used in Indian households since ages to treat various health issues and diseases. With the abundance of antioxidants and presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids, honey helps to prevent various conditions and illnesses such as cancer, heart diseases, diabetes and inflammation.
3. Sleep
Sleeping well is not just important to get rid of those under eye bags or to rest yourself but to keep yourself healthy as well. A good sleep equals good mood and healthy life as it is the only time your body gets to heal itself. Sleep is essential for hormonal health and is very important to lower the symptoms of PCOS.
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Also Read: Can Menopause Cause Insomnia? Know The Connection Between These Two Conditions
Lack of sleep leads to an increased insulin resistance and an increased risk of diabetes.Sleep deprivation also increases inflammation in the body which results in gastrointestinal diseases like gastri-esophageal reflux, bowel disease, colorectal cancer and liver diseases.Make sure that you are getting a proper rest on a regular basis in order to reduce the severity of PCOS symptoms.
4. Plastic
The threat to the environment and a reason behind the global warming that the world has been witnessing for the past few years, plastic is also bad for your health and even worse for PCOS. It is a little known fact that using plastic containers for storing and reheating food can actually be harmful for your health and trigger your PCOS symptoms.
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As researchers have found that the BPA concentration in follicular fluid from patients suffering from PCOS was higher than others. The direct link of these plastic vessels with PCOS is that they can result in increasing testosterone and estrogen levels, leading to weight gain and glucose metabolism.
You can swap your plastic containers with glass, ceramic or steel ones to keep the problems at bay.
5. Pans
What was the last time when you pondered upon the cooking utensils that you are using in your kitchen? Well if not yet then you really need to start thinking about it as the pans and pots that you use for cooking can actually impact your health. The non-stick pans present in your kitchen can be a cooking marvel as they do not let the food stick even without the use of oils and fats then what's the harm? These non-stick pans with a teflon protected surface are made up of a chemical compound known as polytetrafluoroethylene. This chemical compound has been linked with the imbalance in female hormones and can actually worsen your PCOS symptoms and cause issues such as infertility and thyroid.
Image Credits- NY Times
In order to avoid all these diseases and disorders it is better to switch to cooking pans and pots made out of stainless steel, iron cast, stoneware, glass and ceramics.
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