Excess gain of weight has become quite prevalent even in young women today. Many try out a variety of weight loss methods, but in vain. However, after marriage, when they are unable to conceive, a checkup leads to the diagnosis of PCOD in many cases. Many young women these days are suffering from polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). This disease has a constellation of symptoms. Therefore, it is also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
What is PCOD?
As the name suggests, the primary characteristics of this syndrome is the presence of numerous cysts in the ovary. This is caused by an imbalance in the hormone, due to excess production of androgen, although scientists are not very clear why this happens. Women who have PCOD normally have high levels of insulin in their blood.
Symptoms of PCOD
The symptoms of PCOD differ in different women according to the severity of their condition. As androgen is typically a male hormone, many women develop some male characteristics in advanced stages of PCOD such as hirsutism (increased hair growth in the chest, back, fingers, toes, etc.) and male pattern baldness. Other symptoms associated with PCOD are:
- Infertility
- Ovarian cysts
- Infrequent periods
- Painful periods
- Insulin Resistance
- Acanthosis nigricans (presence of dark, thick velvety skin in body folds and creases)
- Obesity
- Insulin resistance syndrome (poor blood sugar control)
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
The Significance of Losing Weight
There is a vicious cycle involved here. Women who have PCOD tend to put on weight and have difficulty losing them. In order to bring their hormone levels under control, they need to lose weight.
Dietary Tips for Losing Weight
Sugary foods bring about a surge in the blood sugar levels, which places undue stress on the body. In the long run, this leads to poor control of blood sugar and weight gain. Cutting down on sugary foods becomes very crucial when you have PCOD. It is important to develop a taste for nutritious foods rather than eating junk. Here is a table that shows what to have and what to avoid broadly.
| Include | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Whole wheat products | Refined flour products |
| Wholegrain bread | White bread |
| Wholegrain pasta | White pasta |
| Oats, corn, barley | Fast foods |
| Fruits and Vegetables | Cakes, Cookies, Sweets, Chocolates |
| Fresh Fish | High-fructose corn syrup |
| Lean meat | Sorbitol |
| Protein shakes | Soft drinks and soda |
Other Lifestyle Modifications That Help
- Drink Plenty of Water: Drink at least 2 liters of water per day. Normally, women forget to drink water in between their busy schedule. In order to overcome this, try to drink one glass of water whenever the clock strikes the hour. This way, you can incorporate it in your daily routine and stay hydrated throughout the day. Regular intake of water will help with detoxification as well as avoid water retention in the body.
- Exercise: Regular exercise will not only help you reduce weight, but will help lessen binge eating. The feel-good hormones (serotonin and dopamine) released with exercise will keep your stress levels also low.
- Stress-free Your Life: The stressors will not vanish, but a daily 1-hour meditation is great to keep yourself from feeling stressed. There are other things that help you feel less stressed, like yoga, music, doing something you really love, and above all taking life a little less seriously. Since stress is a contributing factor of weight gain and PCOD, learning to unwind helps.
- Quit Smoking for Good: Experts say that smoking stimulates androgen production, the main culprits of PCOD characteristics. So, kick the butt for good.
- Say NO to Alcohol: We all know that alcohol affects the liver function, which in turn affects hormone balance. Saying NO to alcohol will not only keep your liver hale and healthy, but also check PCOD progression.
Whether it is to fulfill your motherly instincts, regaining your feminine charm, or improving your general health and well-being, progression of PCOD is something that needs to be checked sooner than later.
