April 29th, 2011
Whenever you go to a supermarket or one of those giant discount warehouses, be ready to be tempted by being offered free samples.
Delicious foods are even more likely to trigger overeating when you come across them unexpectedly. And then they can play havoc with your efforts to control weight to improve your PCOS symptoms.
One free sample may be OK. But it tends to excite the taste buds and makes you feel hungry when you didn’t before, leading to you accepting further offerings.
The best thing to do is not to test your powers of resistance. Try to avoid the free samples altogether and reward yourself with a healthy snack when you get home.
April 28th, 2011
A healthy diet doesn’t just help you to better manage the symptoms of your PCOS via improved weight control. New research suggests it can also enhance your general mood.
People who regularly consume fish, fruit and vegetables reduce their chances of suffering from depression, according to scientists at London’s University College. They looked at the diets of nearly 3500 British civil servants and discovered a “protective effect” in those who ate a healthy diet, compared with participants whose diet included processed meats, sweetened desserts, fried foods, refined cereals and high-fat dairy products.
The researchers hasten to point out that a bad diet doesn’t necessarily cause depression. But healthy eating seems to help stave off the condition.
They speculate that the benefits may derive from three sources: antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, thought to protect the cells from damage; folic acid in leafy greens, which protects brain tissue; and omega-3 fatty acids in fish, which can help to prevent heart disease like metabolic syndrome (syndrome x) and cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s Disease.
April 27th, 2011
Watching your reflection in a mirror as you run on a treadmill can help you co-ordinate your limbs. This allows you to run more smoothly to achieve better weight control and can lead to improved management of your PCOS symptoms.
But the process involves a law of diminishing returns and may eventually lead to a decrease in performance for more hard-core runners who found seeing their image became a distraction, says a new study.
Daniel Eaves, program leader for Sports Psychology at Britain’s Teesside University, who led the study, said that, if a person has just taken up running, mirrors are a good way of developing their style.
“What we see influences how we co-ordinate our limbs. If you are just getting into running, then mirrors may be ideal for developing your style and performing a less demanding run,” he said.
Experienced runners, however, who want to train harder, may find their reflection becomes a distraction and will benefit from not looking in a mirror, added Mr. Eaves.
April 26th, 2011
Did you know that the subject of Sylvester the Cat’s Looney Tunes catchphrase, “Sufferin’ Succotash,” can help PCOS women to cut back on their carb consumption?
Succotash is a traditional, easy-to-make sidedish of lima beans and corn kernels. However, it tastes just as delicious if, instead of high-carb corn, you substitute diced, sauteed yellow squash. You’ll end up with a treat that looks just like succotash, with the same sweet and buttery flavors and textures but a lot less impact on your weight.
Lima beans themselves have a relatively low glycemic load (GL) value and a half-cup (of frozen baby limas) contains just 18 grams of carbohydrate, 5 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.
A perfect stand-in for limas, however, is the green soybean known as edamame. Generally available frozen, shelled or in the pod, these beans are very similar to lima beans but a half-cup contains just 10 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, and 11 grams of protein.
Green soybeans are an excellent supply of vitamin C, calcium, and iron. They also contain all the amino acids needed to make a complete protein, which means they are a very decent substitute for meat.
