Polycystic Ovarian Disease is different from PCOS but as PCOS PCOD is also seen in most women all over the world.PCOD occurs due to the release of more immature eggs resulting in delayed menstruation. This happens due to hormonal imbalances in the female body which are increased levels of male hormones such as androgen and testosterone that stop females from ovulating or fertilizing. Maximum people think PCOS & PCOD are the same while the causes and symptoms are the same both are two different signs of hormonal imbalance in the female body.
What causes PCOD?
While the exact cause of PCOD is left unknown a few most common reasons include your food habits, stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, obesity, and lifestyle changes being the main reason. Present-day food habits like overeating junk food and non-vegetarian food are also one of the reasons for these hormonal and metabolic imbalances. In obese women, it is a little tough to control PCOD, so you have to keep a check on your weight.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of PCOD:
Coming to the symptoms PCOS and PCOD have almost similar symptoms as Weight gain, irregular periods, excessive male pattern hair growth, insulin resistance, and acne or dark skin.
You can go for a medical check-up if you are facing all these problems and understand if you have PCOS or PCOD. Then the doctor will do certain tests as:
1)Pelvic ultrasound can help in visualizing the ovarian cysts or follicles that help in diagnosing PCOD.
2) A blood test is performed to evaluate the hormonal levels such as Follicle-stimulating Hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH), Androgen, testosterone, etc to detect PCOD.
3)The glucose tolerance test is also done to check insulin resistance in the process of diagnosing PCOD.
4)A lipid profile is also checked to see elevated levels of hormones in women having PCOD in people with high cholesterol this test should be mandatorily performed.
5)A few other tests may also be conducted based on your health profile and medical history.
Now let’s understand a few do’s and don'ts while having PCOD.
◇Avoid maida or starch-containing foods because they increase the insulin levels in your body, So try to reduce eating white bread, pasta, biscuits, and any other packaged or processed foods.
◇Avoid eating foods in plastic containers because the chemicals in plastic will mix with the food in the container and increase the androgen levels in your body.
◇Avoid drinking carbonated soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
◇Avoid taking over the dosage of medicine for regulating your hormones as they may disrupt your balance and may cause side effects. So take medicine with the proper medical guidance of your doctor.
◇Try to include jowar,bajra, and oatmeal which regulates insulin levels in your body.
Include fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, berries, flax, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds that help create balance in your hormones.
◇Walk 10,000 steps daily and exercise for at least 20 minutes a day which will help you reduce inflammation and staying physically active helps in regulating your menstrual cycles.
◇Maintain a proper sleep schedule for at least 8 hours and avoid using mobile phones or laptops before and after 30 minutes of sleeping.
◇Include dietary supplements such as curd and milk, and fermented foods such as idly and dosa in your meals.
◇Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water which will help you in flushing out all the excess toxins from the body.
DIET ROUTINE FOR PCOD:
◇In an empty stomach drink lemon water with honey before 30 minutes of your breakfast.
◇As discussed earlier try to have fermented foods in your breakfast as idly or dosa and you can also have a breakfast of your choice which should be fermented. You can also add juice with breakfast as beetroot juice, spinach juice, or flax seed juice.
◇Between breakfast and lunch, you can have fresh fruits such as apples, bananas, grapes, and oranges.
◇For lunch, you can have steamed vegetables with roti made up of jowar or ragi. You can also add a glass of homemade buttermilk with it for a perfect balance.
◇Dinner you should have before 2 hours of sleep which should be any vegetable or sprout or chana salad included with salt, pepper, and any vegetable oil.
PCOD is faced by several women across the world, there is no need to panic and disrupt your hormonal balance. So do follow a healthy diet, proper sleep, regular exercise, and daily checkups to have a healthy and prosperous life. Maintaining consistency is highly essential in managing PCOD, so do take proper care and necessary treatment to manage PCOD. Book your appointment with three simple steps and plan your consultation at the time that suits you best with our top-rated doctors.