Hi there,

Thanks for your email and sorry to hear about your PCOS.

Firstly you are absolutely right that there is a lot of conflicting information out there about PCOS and many other conditions. Unfortunately because of the internet, it is very difficult to work out what is the best advice to follow.

PCOS symptoms can be made worse by a high sugar diet because the condition can affect the way in which insulin is used by the body. Because of this the general advice is to follow a diet that is based around Low Glycaemic index (low GI) carbohydrates.

This doesn't mean that you have to completely avoid any foods that are higher GI (e.g. sugar rich foods, drinks and some fruits), it just means to think about increasing the low GI foods and decreasing the higher GI foods. So having a fruit smoothie, or pieces of fruit in the day is a perfectly fine addition to your diet - it is a good way of getting a good balance of vitamins and minerals, plus the all important fibre that fruit can give us.

Try and make sure that you are also having lower GI foods such as wholewheat pasta, wholemeal bread, brown rice etc which are more complex, and take longer to break down. This means that they have a more stabilising effect on blood sugar levels, which can in turn help the symptoms of PCOS.

The advice to avoid dairy is not one that I would recommend, and it has no scientific basis as far as I am aware. Dairy foods are an important part of a healthy balanced diet, and choosing low fat options can really help with feeling full (hence keeping your afternoon snacking at bay!). Plus they are a rich source of calcium which is important for strong bones. Taking dairy out of the diet altogether can be quite dangerous if it is done without any support from a healthcare professional.

So my advice to you would be to try not to read too much about the do's and don'ts of what you should and shouldn't be doing. The best place to get advice on your condition, and how to help yourself, is from a healthcare professional such as your GP or practice nurse. Before you make any changes to your diet, have a chat with your chosen healthcare professional to make sure that any changes won't affect your condition or your health adversely.

I hope that helps - if you have any further questions that I can help with please don't hesitate to get back in touch.

Janet