Did you know there is a way of improving health in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? That there is a relationship between Keto and PCOS? PCOS affects women in their childbearing years and is way too common than you think. A recent study showed about 70% of women that live with PCOS have no idea that they have the condition. 

Women with this condition have a higher level of male hormones, cysts in their ovaries and experience irregular periods or no period at all. PCOS also interferes with a woman’s fertility, so you may not know what you are dealing with until much later in life when you want to have a baby.

Even though the condition is common, doctors have not come up with the exact cause for the condition or even the cure. Women get treated with diabetes medication, birth control drugs, and drugs that prevent hair growth like, beard in women. 

Nevertheless, the keto diet, a low-carbohydrate diet, can help improve the health of women with PCOS. So if you have been wondering about keto and PCOS and whether there is a connection worry no more.

Let’s take an in-depth look into the relationship between these two.

1. RAPID CONCEPTION AND RETURN OF MENSTRUAL PERIODS

It is no doubt that the food you eat has a direct effect on your body. This is especially true for women’s fertility. Foods that are low in carbs are important for your health. Whether or not a woman has PCOS, cutting down carbs are essential for improving a woman’s chances of conceiving and having a successful pregnancy.

Dr. Abed Alwahab, the Principal Investigator of the Obesity and Management Program in Cleveland, led a study on keto and PCOS. Patients with PCOS and fertility issues were put under the ketogenic diet for a period of 6 months.

The women that followed the diet experienced a rapid return of their menstruation and those that tried for a baby, conceived immediately. After the success of the study, so many women adopted the diet that involves cutting carbs and shared their “miraculous recovery.”

2. HEALING FROM BULIMIA NERVOSA

Bulimia, a serious eating disorder has been proven to be more prevalent among women with PCOS. Adopting a ketogenic diet helps people with bulimia lose their craving for starchy and sugary food.

A previous investigation showed that due to a spike in insulin and glucose in women with bulimia, their bodies tend to crave carbohydrates. However, the study is not conclusive but keto diet has been proven to be useful to women with the eating disorder.

3. DECREASE INSULIN RESISTANCE AND HELP IN WEIGHT LOSS

Keto will help you lose weight and also avoid eating foods that prompt resistance of insulin in the body. The doctor concluded that women who were put on the ketogenic diet lose a high percentage of their body weight and also showed a drop in their insulin levels.

As your body loses weight and decreases the level of insulin resistance, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome effect decreases.

4.DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Mental health is a serious condition that has affected many people, especially in this era. Doctors also predict an increase in mental health illnesses in the coming year. Adopting a few life changes especially when it comes to the diet can have a significant improvement in a person’s mental health.

Medical experts recommend keto particularly for patients with PCOS which has been shown to cause anxiety and depression. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome signs that include facial hair, acne among others is not attractive and can surely make a person feel self-conscious and abnormal.

Add this with prescribed medication that causes weight gain can have a damaging effect on a woman’s self-esteem, which then leads to depression and anxiety.

Women with PCOS who were put on a ketogenic diet showed a significant improvement in their self-esteem, unlike the group who were instructed to take regular food, high in carbohydrates. 

Therefore, for women with PCOS and battling depression, adopting a ketogenic diet will help significantly help them.

5.ELIMINATION OF ACNE

Acne is a serious condition that can affect a person’s self-esteem. Acne develops when there is an increased level of male hormones in the body which then increase the production of sebum. As sebum production increases, the shedding of hair and skin cells reduces which causes a pile-up of dirt and bacteria which then leads to the development of acne.

Eating foods that are lower in carb has shown to eliminate acne in patients with PCOS. Diets that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates lead to the development of more acne.

People who have adopted a ketogenic diet have shown significant improvement in the elimination of acne and an improvement in the quality of their skin. The benefits of a keto diet on women with PCOS in eliminating acne has been proven that when the insulin levels increases, there is an elevated production of sebum and skin cells which is the basis of acne.

A keto diet has anti-inflammatory effects which are good for acne elimination. The inflammation tends to also increase the production of acne in the body.

For women, it’s a good idea to adopt a keto diet to fight PCOS as it will help eliminate acne and improve their skin’s quality

KETO AND PCOS FOR HEALTHY LIVING IN WOMEN

It is no doubt that keto and PCOS relationship is important in the improvement of women’s health. The above list though not extensive shows just how much the keto diet has helped women all over the world. 

By eating foods that are low in carbs which decreases insulin in the body and also fight depression and anxiety, you will live a safer life as a woman with polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

If you looking for more information on the keto diet, feel free to read more on our blog and learn something new today.