Understanding Diet's Role in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is linked to numerous negative health consequences – including Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which leads to reduction in fertility. The good news is that there are certain lifestyle changes you can make that may help improve fertility. It's true that even if you follow these guidelines precisely it may not be enough. In those cases, fertility drugs can also help. However, these guidelines are a good first step and could be the solution you're looking for.

The Winning Combination of Diet and Exercise
Diet and exercise are like peanut butter and jelly. They're both good on their own but when they come together they're amazing. While reducing caloric intake will help to improve your health, and taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood a few times a week can also have a positive impact, when you combine them you'll see your results skyrocket.

There are a few reasons that diet and exercise go hand in hand. First of all, you'll find that when you're getting regular exercise you're not as hungry – which makes it easier to stay on your diet. Second, exercise speeds up your metabolism, even when you're done working out for the day. As a result, if you lower your calorie intake and add exercise your body will be burning fat and you'll be on your way towards a healthier you.

Simple Ways to Add Exercise to Your Daily Life
One of the reasons that people often find it challenging to add exercise to their lives is because they try to go from a sedentary lifestyle to high impact exercise for an hour a day. The result is often exhaustion, which leads to foregoing the exercise program altogether. A more balanced approach to exercise is much more likely to be successful. Consider these simple tips:

•Add exercise a little at a time. It takes just 15 minutes to get the heart rate up and to get positive results from exercise. Start by exercising 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. After a few weeks, or once you've successfully incorporated it into your regular schedule, add 5 or 10 minutes at a time for a few weeks. Before long you'll be getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise 5-7 times per week.

•Make it fun. Exercise shouldn't feel like punishment. Go outside and explore your neighborhood, invest in one of the many video games that helps you work out, or get your friends to work out with you. If you make it fun you'll be much more likely to stick with it.

•Log your exercise. This serves two purposes. First, it helps hold you accountable and reminds you when you've fallen out of the habit, and second it helps act as a motivational tool when you can see at the end of the week just what you've accomplished.

Work a Diet That Works for You
Everyone dreads dieting but that's often because they associate it with starving themselves or making drastic changes overnight. Once again, it can help to make gradual changes. It's also a good idea to find a diet plan that works for you. Trying to do it all on your own can be overwhelming and confusing. Consider these two options that are very clear and easy to follow and that offer help with Metabolic Syndrome:

•The Diabetic Diet. Those with diabetes and those without it can follow this diet, which focuses on reducing problematic carbohydrates while increasing healthy ones, and adding protein, healthy fats and fresh foods to your diet.

•The Glycemic Impact Diet. This diet keeps blood sugar levels relatively stable, which means better health, fewer mood swings, and less irritability.

These diet and exercise tips can help you take control of your health and give you the peace of mind that you're doing everything you can to increase fertility.