Having PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) affect many different areas of a woman’s life. PCOS can influence weight, along with other things. There are a lot of questions around managing PCOS weight gain and diet. One frequently searched question is, “the keto diet and PCOS”, generating over seven million results.
About PCOS
Before we get into it, we should go over some of the basics of PCOS. According to the Office on Woman’s Health (OWH), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, PCOS is health due to having unbalanced reproductive hormones. Imbalance hormones create problems in the ovaries. Eggs may not develop the way they should with PCOS. Or the egg may not release during ovulation.
There is a range of symptoms with PCOS irregular periods, infertility, severe acne, weight gain, and excess hair growth, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Up to four out of five women with PCOS have to deal with both the JPCOS condition and issues with their weight.
PCOS can be managed using hormonal birth control and other medical interventions. However, managing your lifestyle, like managing your weight, could also alleviate the symptoms, per the ACOG.
And that is why the question about the keto diet and PCOS comes up so often. This article will talk about what you need to know about the keto diet and its influence on PCOS symptoms.
Is being on a keto diet helpful if you have PCOS?
There’s a lot to unpack here. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PCOS patients frequently have to deal with insulin resistance. Being insulin resistant means your body can’t use the insulin it produces effectively. Because it’s not effectively used, your body has a hard time getting blood sugar into your cells for energy. Also, being insulin resistant increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. It can also lead to a condition called acanthosis nigricans, patches of thickened darkened skin.
How does a keto diet come into play here?
A keto diet is a very low-carb, high-fat, diet that causes your body to use energy from fat for its fuel instead of sugar. Following the keto diet will limit your intake of carbohydrates to 50g per day or less. Although some people keep their carbs down to 20g or less per day!
Our bodies convert carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar). Insulin is needed to move the glucose into our cells to be used as fuel. By limiting how many carbs you consume can help to reduce the insulin resistance that might happen if you have PCOS. In addition, having lean body mass and losing excess weight helps our bodies with insulin resistance in the long term.
There’s limited evidence suggesting the keto diet can help people with PCOS lose weight and manage their symptoms. There is a study in the Journal of Translational Medicine by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy titled, “Effects of a ketogenic diet in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome”. The study followed 14 women who were medically overweight with PCOS on a keto diet for 12 weeks. The women experienced significant weight loss, averaging 20 lbs loss and a reduction in their body mass index (BMI) xxx https://snip.ly/r5mjat xxx. There was also a decrease in both their glucose and insulin levels. Additionally, there was a noticeable decrease in testosterone in their blood. The researchers concluded based on the data, that the keto diet is “… a valuable non-pharmacological treatment for PCOS”.
Not only does the keto diet can help people with PCOS lose their excess weight. It can lease to the resumption of ovulation and improved fertility, according to Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a Texas ob-gyn.
The ACOG says just weight loss alone can help regulate a woman’s period if they have PCOS. The note is that even small amounts of weight loss can lead to improved regulation. Weight loss is also tied to improved insulin and cholesterol levels, and relieving excess hair growth, ance, and other symptoms.
Given all of this, considering a keto diet when you have PCOS is probably a good idea.
Is the keto diet safe for women with PCOS?
The short answer is “YES”. You can easily begin a keto diet on your own. There are plenty of resources out there to help you. Everything from the book, “The Keto Diet for Dummies”, to having a custom keto meal plan expertly created just for you based on your circumstances and goals xxx /plan xxx.
Because PCOS is an underlying medical condition, it’s suggested you speak to your doctor and/or a nutritionist before starting a new diet.
