Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your body, especially for the digestive system. Probiotics are often called “good” bacteria as they provide health benefits when consumed, generally by improving or restoring the gut flora.
Changes in gut flora resulted in decrease in body fat, weight gain and inflammation. The gut plays an important role in balancing hormones, controlling inflammation, and promoting overall health.
Probiotics and its supplements can play an important role in treating PCOS. It normalizes your menstrual cycle, lower androgen levels, and improves insulin resistance. One must look for a probiotic supplement that contains multiple (5-10) probiotic strains for the most benefit. Consult your doctor for the daily dose.
Symptoms Of Probiotics Deficiency:
An unhealthy gut can lead to probiotics deficiency. Some of the symptoms are:
- Stomach upset
- Cold & flu infections
- Poor skin health or skin irritation
- Poor digestion/ irregularity
- Unintentional weight changes
Diet Rich In Probiotics For PCOS:
You’re likely getting quite a lot of probiotics when you eat a wide variety of nutrient-dense whole foods or a veggie-heavy diet.
As mentioned above the gut plays an important role for women with PCOS. In order to make your gut strong you have to make sure to eat a proper diet. Some of the best probiotics foods are listed below, which also has the ability to make your gut strong.
| Fruits |
| Berries, Grapefruit, Bananas, Dry fruits (Fig, dates, raisins), Custard apples, Peach, Watermelon |
| Vegetables |
| Onions, Green peas, Spring onions, Asparagus, Potato, Sweetcorn, Yam (elephant yam), Shallots (small onions) |
| Legumes |
| Lentils, Baked beans, Red kidney beans, Soy beans, Chickpeas |
| Other Foods & Fermented Foods |
| Almonds, Pistachio, Cashews, Flax seeds, Raw Honey, Cocoa, Yogurt, Kefir, Buttermilk, Natto, Kombucha, Idli, Apple cider vinegar, Fermented vegetables, Kimchi, Miso |
Incredibly healthy, this list of foods that are good sources of probiotics. Women with PCOS can make it a habit to include at least one or two in the meal plan.
What Weakens Your Probiotics Level?
When the body does not get enough supplementation of probiotics, deficiencies develop. The digestive system is also linked to a large energy center known as the Solar Plexus chakra. How worthy we feel, our self-esteem, our feeling of personal power and how we are actually digesting life, is controlled by this energy.
There are many factors to be considered to keep probiotics levels maintained and some of them are listed below.
Alcohol consumption:
It is recommended not to consume alcohol while taking probiotics medication or supplements. Alcohol Kills many important gut bacteria which impact on the probiotic bacteria in your gut microbiome. Thus drinking alcohol can have an impact on the probiotic levels.
Eating habits:
Unhealthy dietary habits may lower the levels of probiotics. Women with PCOS must follow a strict diet in order to treat PCOS and get rid of this deficiency.
Not getting enough sleep:
Your sleeping habit can have serious impacts on your gut health leading to lower levels of probiotics. One must get at least 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.
Plant Based Food Source:
Probiotics are supplements that can treat PCOS by normalizing menstrual cycle, lowering androgen levels, and improving insulin resistance. There are many foods rich in probiotics which improves gut health and treats PCOS. However there is always a question about how do vegans get their probiotics?
There are many ways for women on a plant-based diet to eat more probiotics. High fiber and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir can boost the body’s probiotics and help to curb sugar cravings.
Some of the vegan, plant-based probiotic foods are listed below:
| Food Name | What is it? | |
| 1 | Sauerkraut | Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage dish. |
| 2 | Kimchi | Kimchi is a spicy, fermented cabbage dish. |
| 3 | Pickled vegetables | Pickling vegetables are probiotic-rich snacks or side dish. Most popular are cucumbers, carrots, radishes, green beans, cauliflower and red bell peppers. For extra flavor you can add herbs and spices such as garlic, bay leaves, black peppercorns and coriander seeds. |
| 4 | Kombucha | Kombucha is a fermented tea. |
| 5 | Water kefir | Water kefir is a probiotic non-alcoholic beverage. Its grains help ferment sugar water, juice, or coconut water to form a mild-flavored healthful drink. |
| 6 | Tempeh | Tempeh is a soy-based food that is similar to tofu but involves the fermentation of the soybeans. |
| 7 | Sourdough bread | Combination of flour and water that has fermented for several days makes sourdough bread. |
| 8 | Miso | Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and kōji and sometimes rice, barley, seaweed, or other ingredients. |
| 9 | Fortified dairy alternatives | Some fermented dairy alternatives, such as soy- and nut-based milk and yogurts or even coconut milk based products. |
Disclaimer:
For those who suffer from PCOS, it is vital to stay calm. However, it is better to seek an expert’s advice or consult a doctor before beginning any diet or taking any herb or spices. Don’t start taking probiotics without talking to your doctor or nutritionist about whether probiotics might help you. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor immediately. We strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor before beginning to take probiotics supplements.
7 Responses
This article provides a huge benefits on understanding probiotics and what can be used for pcos. Great work!
Thanks for sharing this useful article. I think it will more people of PCOS. Nice work!
Great work I should say. Coz I find it much easier to understand and it’s more useful for me.
Never thought that probiotics could help hugely for PCOS. Definitely worth knowing!
Probiotics in general is very good for body. I am heavily tainted with PCOS, but this article helped really! Thanks!
Each blog on PCOS was awesome, all necessary data and informatics in right place. Hope this spreads general basic awarness!
Haven’t discovered this much benefits about probiotics in pcod treatment. Thanks for sharing this high required information. Great work!