Short Answer: Greek yogurt is good for PCOS. Because it has protein, calcium, probiotics, and iodine, and they can help you lower your androgen levels, regulate your hormone levels, improve your gut health, and support your thyroid function.
PCOS is a condition that affects your ovaries and hormones.
In PCOS, your body produces too much androgen, a male hormone, which interferes with the normal development and release of eggs from your ovaries.
This can lead to various health problems, such as irregular periods, infertility, acne, weight gain, and insulin resistance.
One of the key factors in managing PCOS is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar levels, which can impact your PCOS symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage PCOS, you should consume low-glycemic index (GI) foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and avoid high-GI foods like refined carbohydrates, sugars, and processed foods.
Now, Greek yogurt is a type of yogurt that is strained to remove most of the whey, resulting in a thicker and creamier product.
People usually eat Greek yogurt as a snack, breakfast, or dessert, or use it as a substitute for sour cream or mayonnaise in recipes.
Greek yogurt is good for PCOS because it contains protein, calcium, probiotics, and iodine.
These are all beneficial ingredients for PCOS.
One cup of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt can give you 23 grams of protein (46% of your daily needs), 187 mg of calcium (19% of your daily needs), 1.5 billion CFU of probiotics (varies depending on the brand and strain), and 75 mcg of iodine (50% of your daily needs).
Protein can help you feel full, control your appetite, and support your muscle mass.
Calcium can help you maintain strong bones and teeth, and regulate your hormone levels.
Probiotics can help you improve your gut health, digestion, and immunity.
Iodine can help you support your thyroid function, which is often impaired in PCOS.
Furthermore, Greek yogurt is a dairy product and dairy is good for PCOS.
Because, dairy can help you lower your androgen levels, reduce inflammation, and balance your insulin sensitivity.
You can eat one to two cups of Greek yogurt per day safely.
More than that can cause bloating, gas, diarrhea, or lactose intolerance.
Also, you shouldn’t eat Greek yogurt if you have a dairy allergy or intolerance, or a thyroid disorder, to prevent adverse reactions.
Because, dairy can trigger allergic or inflammatory responses in some people, or interfere with thyroid medication absorption.
You can buy fresh Greek yogurt in your local market or can order it online.
Always choose plain, low-fat, and organic varieties.
Because, flavored, full-fat, and conventional varieties can contain added sugars, hormones, or pesticides, which can worsen your PCOS symptoms.
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to two months.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing PCOS effectively.
I always recommend my PCOS patients to follow a PCOS-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.