Introduction
Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age. With PCOS, the ovaries may develop follicles, which are formed due to accumulation of fluid and ovaries become unable to release eggs regularly. The common symptoms of PCOS include acne, excessive body hair growth (hirsutism), irregular menstrual cycle, amenorrhea (no periods), reduced fertility, obesity, mood swings, scalp hair loss and insulin resistance.
Causes
Ayurveda sees any disease as the result of imbalance of any Dosha. Ayurveda deemed PCOS as the disorder of Kapha dosha. Artava dhatu (a tissue) is responsible for the process of reproduction in the female body and the channel that contains the reproductive fluid is termed as artava vaha srota. PCOS develops when the aggravated Kapha dosha blocks the natural flow of both these fluids and channels. Due to the obstruction of movement, the metabolism gets suppressed and PCOS develops.
Diet for PCOS
To reverse PCOS, the patient needs to follow a healthy diet full of fiber content and calcium. We prepared a proper diet chart to let you know which foods are beneficial for eating or which are not while suffering from the PCOS. Follow the given diet instructions and the food which should be consumed or which should be avoided.
Early morning– Herbal tea/ Aloe Vera juice/ Warm Water + 1 tsp dry roasted flax seeds
Breakfast– Veg Dalia/ Veg Upma/ Veg Idli/ Veg Oats/ 2 egg whites/ Veg Khichdi/ Veg Poha
Mid-morning– Fruit juices/ Sweet potatoes in any form
Lunch– Chapati/ Brown rice with Vegetable + Dal + Salad + Curd
Dinner- Veg khichdi / 2 chapattis + seasonal vegetable + dal
Before bed- Chamomile tea
| Foods To Have | Foods To Avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Vegetables: Beans, Sprouts, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Cabbage, Sweet potatoes, Beet, Garlic, Onion, Carrot, Spinach, Pumpkin, Turnips, Peas, Lettuce, Kale. | ❌ Overcooked vegetables |
| ✔️ Fruits: Mango, Apples, Figs, Strawberries, Cherries, Avocado, Pineapple, Papaya, Lemon, Prunes, Bananas, Apricots, Kiwi, Bell pepper, Lime, Grapefruit, Oranges, Pomegranate, Pear, Brazil nuts and Citrus fruits like Amla, Oranges. | ❌ Nil |
| ✔️ Nonveg: Lean meat, Fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and sardines). | ❌ Red meat, Turkey and Dark meat poultry |
| ✔️ Spices: Turmeric, Cinnamon, Carom seeds, Cumin, Coriander, Fenugreek and Fennel. | ❌ Green chili ❌ Red chili |
| ✔️ Legumes: Lentils, Kidney beans, Adzuki beans, Chickpeas, Haricot beans, Lima beans, Black eyed beans and Split beans. | ❌ Nil |
| ✔️ Other food items: Brown rice, Brown flour, Tofu, Yogurt, Oats, Rye, Millet, Buckwheat, Olive oil, Sesame oil, Soybean, Flax seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Cow ghee, Cashew nuts, Almonds, Barley water, Aloe Vera juice, Almond oil, Fish oil, Water and Corn. | ❌ Stale nuts, Canola oil, Alcohol, Sugar, Cakes, Pastries, Frozen food, Refined grains, Processed foods, Caffeine products like coffee and chocolate. |
Other tips:
- Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.
- Perform physical activities like cycling, swimming, walking, running, jogging, gymnastics, etc. for a minimum of 45 minutes daily,
- Meditate for at least 20 minutes a day.
- Don’t skip meals especially breakfast.
- Consume whole fruits rather than fruit juices.
