Eating these 5 foods may help relieve PCOS symptoms

September is marked as PCOS awareness month. In India, it is estimated that 1 in 5 women suffers from the condition. Not only does PCOS lead to a fluctuation of your hormone levels, but it is also associated with infertility and increases the risk of other chronic health conditions, including diabetes and inflammatory infections.

Women who are diagnosed with PCOS (nearly 12% of women of reproductive age worldwide) are often asked to follow a corrective course of hormone-regulating pills (birth control) and lose weight. However, making corrections in your diet can also work to balance hormonal issues, holistically.

There might be no one-size-fits-all diet for PCOS reversal but if you eat plenty of protein, vitamins, control carbs and dairy, you may observe a drastic difference in your health and manage your condition better. Certain foods can also control the severity of your condition and symptoms. We have listed out 5 such foods women with PCOS must eat:

Love them or hate them, lentils are one of the healthiest staples you would come across in an Indian kitchen. While the fibre present in them can aid digestion and control blood sugar levels, the plant protein present in them is extremely healthy for vegans and vegetarians. They can also help boost weight loss. The most beneficial ones for women with PCOS could be black beans, chickpeas and yellow lentils. However, make sure you do not have them with curd, which can trigger inflammation and even disturb digestion in some cases. A bowl of healthy lentil preparation is what you should be aiming for, every day.

Rich in essential nutrients like fatty acids and Omega-3, nuts and seeds had regularly can manage hormonal functioning as well as weight fluctuations. Some experts also recommend women to follow a 'seed cycling' routine, which is a natural treatment that supports consuming different nuts and seeds at specific points during the reproductive cycle to regular hormonal functioning. Here are five must-have nuts and seeds to control PCOS which women can have.

Certain kinds of mushrooms, 'maitake mushrooms' are extremely potent in benefits. Researches suggest that regular consumption of maitake mushrooms can boost ovulation and regularize your periods to an extent. It's also rich in healthy antioxidants, which can ward off stress levels.

If you are diagnosed with PCOS, Omega-3 is an important nutrient which can work to correct your imbalances. Salmon and certain types of fishes are extremely rich in Omega-3. Omega-3 not only works to improve your eyesight and brain health but for women of childbearing age, it can help lower triglyceride levels, insulin sensitivity, control stress levels and also reduce inflammation, which could cause uncontrolled weight gain.

If you consume seafood, make sure you have at least 1-2 servings of the same in a week. For vegetarians and vegans, consuming fish oil supplements is also a good option to stay on top of your health.

Goes without saying, make sure to include at least 1-2 servings of healthy nutritious greens in your diet. Not only are greens fortified with nutrition, but there is also one vitamin found abundantly in them- Vitamin B. Studies over the years have found that nearly 80% of women suffering from PCOS are deficient in Vitamin B.

Vitamin B is an important nutrient which supports fertility- from regulating ovulation, insulin control and regularizing blood flow in the body. Hence, consuming Vitamin B can help deal with a lot of symptoms which can be linked to PCOS. It could also help with hair thinning and hirsutism (excess hair growth), commonly experienced with PCOS and PCOD.