I was diagnosed with PCOS few months ago. I was asked to lose weight in order to regulate my periods and my blood sugar. I need a proper diet plan to do so. Can you suggest what I should eat and what not to eat?

veggie dietWhile there is no “diet plan” for PCOS, there are some changes you can make to your eating habits in order to help regulate your blood sugar and potentially lose some weight. The following are some general tips:

  • ​​Eat small frequent meals instead of 2-3 large meals. This will help to keep your blood sugar from spiking and dropping.
  • Decrease the amount of refined carbohydrates that you consume. These include any foods made from white flour and/or sugar such as white bread, white pasta, soda, candy, cookies, muffins, bagels, some cereals, juice.
  • Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. These foods have important vitamins and minerals as well as fiber, an important key to weight regulation.
  • Make sure that each meal has a balance of nutrients. These include carbohydrates (preferably whole grain), fats (preferably heart healthy unsaturated), and protein (preferably lean). Snacks should also have a balance of protein and fiber.

While making these changes won’t lead to rapid weight loss, they will help manage the symptoms of PCOS overtime. If you need tips or ideas on how to implement the above, consider meeting with a registered dietitian. For more information on PCOS and nutrition visit our guide, PCOS: Nutrition Basics.