Synopses & Reviews
The first nutrition-based PCOS book written by a registered dietitian, this prescriptive guide uses diet and exercise to manage the female hormonal disorder that is linked to infertility, diabetes, heart disease, and endometrial cancer.
PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, according to the Mayo Clinic. While evidence suggests the disorder is genetic and incurable, it is controllable. Dietitian Hillary Wright demystifies the condition by explaining its underlying cause and helps readers understand how diet and lifestyle can influence their reproductive hormones. With specific sections addressed to women experiencing fertility treatments, pregnancy, or menopause, The PCOS Diet Plan is the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to managing this increasingly diagnosed condition.
About the Author
Hillary Wright, M.Ed, RD, is the director of nutritional counseling at the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health at Boston IVF, a Harvard-affiliated fertility treatment center, and a nutritionist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She lives with her husband and three sons in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
Foreword vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part 1. Defining Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 5
Chapter 1. The Mystery of PCOS 6
Chapter 2. An Internal Look at PCOS 28
Chapter 3. Treating PCOS: Diet, Nutrition, and Medication 39
Part 2. Managing Health and Hormones through Diet and Lifestyle 57
Chapter 4. The Carbohydrate-Distributed Diet 58
Chapter 5. The Ins and Outs of Carbohydrate Counting 83
Chapter 6. Fighting the Weight War 116
Chapter 7. Taking Exercise Seriously 140
Chapter 8. Sensible Supplementation for Women with PCOS 146
Chapter 9. Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes 157
Part 3. The PCOS Diet: Making It Happen 163
Chapter 10. Eating the PCOS Diet Way: Meals and Snacks 164
Chapter 11. Mastering the Market: An Aisle-by-Aisle Shopping Guide 189
Chapter 12. Negotiating the Menu: Dining Out 203
Part 4. PCOS and Other Considerations 209
Chapter 13. Finding Support and Relieving Stress 210
Chapter 14. PCOS and Planning for Pregnancy 216
Chapter 15. Integrating the PCOS Diet Plan into Your Life 222
Appendix 1: Sample Meal Plans 224
Appendix 2: Food Journal 228
Resources 229
Notes 233
Index 241