If you’ve been looking for some no-nonsense, research-based PCOS nutrition advice, you are in for a treat. Registered Dietitian and PCOS nutrition expert Hillary Wright is here to talk about the new second edition of her book, The PCOS Diet Plan: A Natural Approach to Health for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

What makes Hillary such an outstanding member of the PCOS community is her passion for educating women so that they fully understand how PCOS affects their bodies. She believes that no woman living with PCOS should be left in the dark, and that with the right information, every woman living with PCOS will be able to take control of her health and thrive.

Key Interview Takeaways

Work with your body. Try not to let a PCOS diagnosis damage your relationship with your body. Instead of feeling like your body is undermining you, learn more about how PCOS changes your physiology so you can adjust your lifestyle.

Every woman living with PCOS is at risk for insulin resistance. As Hillary explained, insulin resistance is on a spectrum. Long before your doctor can see evidence of insulin resistance in your bloodwork, you are still dealing with some level of insulin resistance. This is true for both overweight and lean PCOS women. Ideally, your PCOS nutrition plan should mitigate insulin resistance before it becomes a clinical issue.

The quality and quantity of your food matters. Many fad diets will overemphasize one aspect of your nutrition – either how much you eat or what you eat. Hillary wants you to pay attention to both aspects because they are equally important for proper PCOS nutrition. If you consume more calories than you need, you will gain weigh. But weight management is not just a simple math equation. By selecting high-quality whole food for most of your meals, you’ll provide your body with the valuable nutrients it needs to perform important functions, thus making it easier for you to stay at a healthy weight.

Start with a good breakfast and eat on a schedule. Many people eat lightly throughout the day and have a big meal in the evening. This is a habit you might want to change. Years of nutrition counseling have taught Hillary that women who tend to feast at night have a more difficult time managing their weight. Dispersing your calories evenly throughout the day is one way to naturally reduce insulin resistance and get your body in sync with its circadian rhythms.

To achieve a more balanced eating schedule, you may need to incorporate snacks into your daily routine. That’s why I’ve compiled this resource of healthy snack ideas with a PCOS-friendly diet in mind.

You were meant to move. Our bodies were not designed for the modern sedentary lifestyle. Nearly every aspect of health improves when you make physical activity part of your everyday life. Weight management, insulin resistance, depression, digestion problems, and heart health are just a few of the areas exercise improves. If changing your nutrition seems very overwhelming, Hillary suggests you get started with exercise first. The mood-boosting effects of working out will make dietary changes feel less stressful.

Be patient and learn from your slip-ups. Eating for good health is a lifelong journey and you will have setbacks along the way. The most successful people learn how to look at slip-ups as a chance to improve rather than a failure they should feel guilty about.
 
 
 
Now go get more wisdom from this PCOS expert!
I can’t recommend Hillary’s book enough. I promise it will help you to feel much more connected to your body and informed about PCOS. Thank you, Hillary, for putting together this tremendous resource!

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Erika Portrait

Hi! I'm Erika.

I’m a certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach. I also happen to have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I help guide guide women living with PCOS toward a lifestyle that gets their symptoms under control so that they have the time, energy, and confidence to thrive. My tips, plans, programs, and guides cover all the information I wish I had when I was first diagnosed.

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