help?!?!

[desiree]

my, name is desiree. i am 17 years old and i was diagnosed with pcos at the age of 14. i am overwieght and im trying to change that. my question for you is, is the average diet going to be enough to lose weight or does my pcos have a factor is how diets work for me? :confused:
thanks, desiree

[drheather]

my, name is desiree. i am 17 years old and i was diagnosed with pcos at the age of 14. i am overwieght and im trying to change that. my question for you is, is the average diet going to be enough to lose weight or does my pcos have a factor is how diets work for me? :confused:
thanks, desiree

Hello Desiree,

Thank you for posting to the forum. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis of PCOS. We understand how difficult this can be for a young woman.

To answer your question, it depends on what you mean by typical diet. Many of the diets available today focus on calories, not so much food quality or the content of the food eaten.

Because the underlying cause of PCOS is often insulin resistance, we know that a diet lower in carbs is a better choice for women with PCOS. Also, it is important to address the cause (insulin resistance).

With PCOS and insulin resistance, there is a reduction in insulin sensitivity of cells, which impairs the processing of glucose through the cell wall for
conversion to energy. As a result, glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated levels of blood sugar, some of which is sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar may be converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity.

Sometimes insulin resistance results in high blood sugar, sometimes in low blood sugar, and sometimes there is no change whatsoever in blood sugar levels. I think this probably depends on how long the person has been insulin resistant, among other things. Like many things, developing insulin resistance was probably a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Reducing your intake of carbohydrates and removing the processed carbs (breads, pasta, cookies, etc), your body will not have the same response. Eating vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats will provide you with the energy your body needs without further contributing to insulin resistance.

I recommend the book, "The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility", by Dr. Nancy Dunne, ND. It explains PCOS, and how to address it from a nutrition perspective. It has lot's of great recipes, food lists, information.

I would also recommend the Insulite PCOS System. This addresses the cause, symptoms (acne, excess facial and body hair, irregular periods, weight, etc) and long term consequences that can result from having PCOS (diabetes, cardiovascular disease).

Desiree, I hope that this helps. Feel free to write in or contact me at any time.