8 Steps to Controlling PCOS Cravings!

Sometimes it feels like our cravings are controlling us…trust me as someone with a shared hormonal disorder, I’ve been there!

In this episode, we give you our top tips to reduce cravings with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, so that you don’t have to fight your cravings for the rest of your life and instead, focus on healing them!

You’ll learn about diet & lifestyle changes you can start today including supplements, exercises, and more! We also give you the low down on artificial sweeteners, sleep, and gluten’s impact on cravings, and how to manage those pesky insulin levels! What are you waiting for Cysters? Click play!

And for those of you who are super interested in this topic, read on! We’re going to quickly break down 8 steps to controlling PCOS cravings. Not only to provide additional content for you but to ensure you have a handy resource available when those intense PCOS cravings kick in. Let’s dive right in!

8 Steps To Controlling PCOS Cravings

Go gluten-free.

When it comes to dealing with PCOS cravings, going gluten-free is a great first step. A gluten-free diet will reduce overall carb consumption, thus reducing sugar consumption and sugar cravings. This isn’t to say all carbs are bad. In fact, complex carbs (which digest slower) are great for women with PCOS. It’s those gluten-filled simple carbs that are best avoided.

Believe us Cysters, we know going gluten-free is no easy task. But making this change to your diet will not only reduce sugar intake, it will also help you lose weight with PCOS and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Start by identifying which foods in your diet contain gluten. Then, phase them out and replace them with a healthier alternative.

Don’t mask your cravings.

PCOS cravings can be very INTENSE. Those of us who chronically deal with this symptom can attest to just how strong these cravings can get. With that being said, it can be tempting to try to mask your carbohydrate cravings with sweet-tasting food items, like fruit and artificial sugars. Unfortunately, fruit still contains plenty of sugar and artificial sweeteners still trigger insulin release. So, these are not viable options for your blood sugar levels.

Instead of giving in to food cravings, work to reduce them. Rather than continuously masking your cravings, it’s more important to face the issue head-on and focus on forming new healthy habits – like eating a healthy diet with minimal sugary foods. While you can still incorporate fruit into your diet, it’s never a good idea to overeat sweet fruit in order to mask your cravings.

Identify your trigger foods.

Whether you have PCOS or not, consuming sugary foods only makes you want to consume more sugary foods. We see this in our daily lives with soda, bread, candy, and so on. Once you have one, it’s hard to stop. This can quickly become a downward spiral of overeating, binge eating, and weight gain. So, as a Cyster, it’s a good idea to identify your trigger foods early and avoid consuming them altogether so that you can regulate your blood sugar. Then over time, consuming less sugar will reduce these sugar cravings.

Manage stress.

Stress is one of the most common causes of food cravings, and even more so if you’re a Cyster. So, learning to manage your stress levels can greatly reduce the amount of food cravings you have. Not to mention, stress management can also assist with menstrual regularity, overall mental health, and weight loss. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to manage stress.

Stress management strategies include: exercising and/or lifting weights, getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy, meditating, journaling, practicing self-care, and connecting with others. It’s also important to mention that not all stress is mental. Stress can come in physical forms as well, such as eating inflammatory foods. So, it’s important to manage both mental and physical stress.

Lift weights.

Physical activity is key to managing all the symptoms of PCOS, both physical and mental. Since PCOS cravings often stem from stress, lifting weights and exercising is a great way to reduce stress and thus reduce cravings. It’s also a key step in any PCOS weight loss journey and works to build insulin sensitivity and improve mood. Try to perform a minimum of 30 minutes – 1 hour of physical activity each day. If you’re unsure about how to get into a good exercise routine, start with these exercises for PCOS.

Get your 8 hours of sleep.

Again, since stress is the main reason those diagnosed with PCOS experience food cravings, getting plenty of sleep can help reduce and even prevent these cravings. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night can not only reduce stress, thus reducing food cravings. But it can also improve overall mental health and moodiness, and assist with weight loss.

Avoid eating one huge meal.

When we eat large meals, the body produces a large jolt of insulin. And because insulin is an appetite stimulant, large meals can lead to intense cravings afterward. Instead of consuming a large meal, opt for several smaller meals throughout the day. And, don’t skip meals. This will reduce cravings and binge eating, and improve overall mood throughout the day. Be sure to keep to your meal plan and stock up on these pantry must-haves for PCOS nutrition.

Talk to your doctor about Ovasitol.

Finally, if managing this symptom naturally just isn’t working for you, we highly recommend talking to your doctor about Ovasitol. For Cysters like us, Ovasitol can drastically reduce sugar cravings. As well as improve insulin sensitivity, restore hormone balance, and improve ovulation and egg quality. While you’re there, don’t forget to also ask your doctor these other important questions about PCOS.

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While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition, or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (bit.ly/PCOSPrivacyPolicy)

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