You really must know what the worst diets for PCOS are, so you can stop following them ASAP.
What are the Worst Diets for PCOS?
PCOS sufferers have tried many different diets to see what will work to manage their symptoms!
This article talks about the worst diets for PCOS so let’s delve right in:
Steer Clear – The 4 Worst Diets for PCOS
#1 Worst Diet for PCOS: The Standard American Diet
Okay, this comes as no surprise but the Standard American Diet (SAD) is the worst diet for PCOS.
It is a typical Western diet composed of:
- White flour which includes many baked goods such as confectioneries, pastries, cakes, muffins, etc.
- White sugar and added sugar found in sweets, juices, soda, etc.
- Processed meats like sausages, factory raised chicken, etc.
- Preservatives and synthetic food coloring which is found in literally any packaged food you find on a supermarket shelf.
Now it’s not bad to have some fast food like fried chicken, chips and a soda once in a while but having it regularly like every day, means you ARE following the Standard American Diet.
Why SAD is the worst diet for PCOS is because it causes increased inflammation in the body. This aggravates PCOS symptoms.
This diet also introduces a lot of unhealthy fat that contributes to obesity and heart disease.
Obesity and unwanted weight gain are two major things many of us PCOS ladies are fighting.
So, continuing to feed on the SAD diet is ultimately going to lead you down a sad road to poor PCOS health.
#2 Worst Diet for PCOS: Gluten-Free Diet
Okay, so some of you are going to give me sceptical looks for this one.
But just hear me out –
If you are not gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease, then there’s no reason really to go completely gluten-free in your PCOS healing journey.
Gluten is found in wheat, which is the staple and easiest food of many humans worldwide.
By eliminating gluten from your diet, you may be doing more harm than good.
First of all, avoiding gluten for no reason at all, but just because you heard it’ll help can make you depressed like never before – no jokes.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
PCOS and depression go hand in hand already. Now add in depression from not being able to eat or cook easily using wheat (the most available and cheapest food around) – you’ll become a walking nimbus cloud, ready to erupt with tears any second.
Secondly, by saying no to gluten, you’re risking saying no to fiber. Whole grains like brown bread contain a lot of fiber that is known to keep your digestive system and heart healthy.
I know you’re going to say that a gluten-free diet helped you lose weight but why is that so?
Research shows that those who lose weight because of going gluten-free only do so because of two things – they have reduced their carb and calorie intake. That’s just it. You can do this without eliminating gluten.
Also, there is no evidence that shows PCOS is affected by gluten consumption. Yes, avoiding gluten consumption could potentially reduce inflammation in women with PCOS but more research is needed before pushing gluten-free diets to all women with PCOS.
#4 Worst Diet for PCOS: Diary-Free Diet
Okay, if you weren’t sceptical with me for the previous diet, I bet you’re going to be throwing hands hearing this – a dairy-free diet is one of the worst diets for PCOS!
I know PCOS ladies try to avoid dairy because it increases inflammation and PCOS symptoms.
Some have even had good results such as controlling insulin resistance, losing weight and improving hormones with PCOS by eliminating milk and cheese from their diet.
The reason why some say dairy is bad for PCOS is because it contributes to PCOS acne, makes you put on weight and can lead to higher insulin levels.
If you consume too much dairy, then yes, it can negatively affect your PCOS.
But dairy is not something to completely throw out when eating for PCOS. Unless you have lactose intolerance, of course.
Why is dairy okay for PCOS?
Studies investigating the link between dairy and PCOS are very limited. Most of the studies conducted didn’t investigate the effect of all dairy on PCOS/acne, just milk.
And what’s more is that in the few studies that exist, the risks of dairy to PCOS symptoms like acne were seen when 3 or more servings of milk were consumed.
For those who are trying to get pregnant with PCOS, research shows that full-fat dairy can actually help you. Incorporating full-fat dairy foods may decrease the risk of infertility!
It is advisable for women to limit their dairy intake to 2 or lower servings a day AND go for the full-fat versions because low fat actually tended to be much worse than full fat!
So you can go ahead and consume 1-2 servings of full-fat dairy without feeling like you’re doing a bad thing! 1 serving means 1 cup of full-fat milk or yogurt and 1.5 oz of hard cheese.
Important: ALWAYS go for organic and free range dairy. Don’t buy factory-processed dairy!
#5 Worst Diet for PCOS: Keto Diet
You may want to stop doing the keto diet for PCOS!
The keto diet focuses on consuming a lot of high quality fat and protein.
The thing is, women with PCOS don’t need this much fat and protein in their diets.
A keto diet doesn’t contain the right amount or variety of fiber women with PCOS need. As you already know, inflammation is the biggest aggravator of PCOS. Fiber is very necessary to reduce inflammation in the body.
Keto is not also very practical for many people to do. It may not be a gut-friendly diet, especially for those who are trying to improve their gut health and fight inflammation.
You have reached the end of this article, ‘The 4 Worst Diets for PCOS.’ Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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