Nutrition Science for PCOS Blog & Resources 

Many women with PCOS skip breakfast for what feel like sensible reasons. You may: not feel hungry in the morning rely on coffee to get going feel too busy to eat want to “save calories” for later or believe fasting will help with weight loss Sometimes breakfast gets pushed later and later until the first proper meal happens at lunchtime, or even later in the afternoon. Looking for some great breakfast ideas, there are 15 high-protein ideas in this post. While this pattern may

What Should You Eat in a Day With PCOS? One of the most common questions I hear is: "What should I actually eat in a day with PCOS?" After scrolling through social media, it's easy to feel confused. One person says to cut out carbohydrates. Another recommends intermittent fasting. Someone else claims dairy is the problem. The reality is that there is no single perfect PCOS diet. In my experience, most women benefit from stepping away from restrictive food rules and focusing o

When women with PCOS try to improve their nutrition, fibre is often overlooked. Most conversations online focus on: cutting carbohydrates avoiding sugar fasting or following restrictive food rules. But one of the most supportive nutrients for PCOS may actually be: fibre. Fibre plays an important role in: blood sugar balance appetite regulation digestion gut health fullness after meals and overall metabolic health. Many women with PCOS are not eating enough fibre consistently,

If you've ever looked at healthy recipes online and thought, "I don't have time for all of that," you're in the right place. Many women with PCOS assume eating well means preparing different meals every day, buying expensive ingredients or following complicated meal plans. In reality, one of the simplest ways to support your overall health is to gradually include a wider variety of foods in your diet. This doesn't mean completely changing how you eat. It means making small ad

If you have PCOS and constantly feel exhausted, struggle with evening cravings or feel stuck in cycles of “starting again tomorrow”, poor sleep may be playing a much bigger role than you realise. Many women with PCOS focus heavily on: what to eat supplements exercise routines weight loss strategies But sleep is often the missing piece. And not just because it affects energy. Poor sleep can influence: appetite regulation cravings blood sugar balance stress hormones emotional e

If you feel constantly tired, rely on caffeine to get through the day, or find yourself craving sugar by mid-afternoon, you’re in the right place. Many women with PCOS symptoms feel like their energy is unpredictable, and frustratingly low, despite trying to eat well and “do the right things”. This isn’t just about being busy or stressed. In PCOS, fatigue is often linked to how your body produces and uses energy, and that process relies heavily on having the right nutrients a

Why sugar cravings with PCOS feel so hard to control Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I just need more willpower around sugar…” This is one of the most common things women say when they’re struggling with PCOS. Cravings can feel intense, persistent, and frustrating, especially when they seem to undo a full day of “eating well”. But in most cases, cravings are not about a lack of discipline. They’re a biological response. And once you understand what’s driving them, the

“I’m eating well… so why do I still feel stuck?” This is something I hear often. You’re trying to make better choices. You’re being more mindful with food. You might even be following what you’ve been told is a “healthy diet”. But you’re still dealing with symptoms like: Ongoing sugar cravings Energy dips throughout the day Stubborn weight gain that isn’t shifting Feeling like your body isn’t responding the way it should It can feel frustrating and confusing. Especially when

If you have PCOS and struggle with fatigue, low mood, frequent infections or difficulty losing weight, vitamin D may be one piece of the puzzle worth exploring. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the UK, particularly during the autumn and winter months when sunlight exposure is limited. Research also suggests that low vitamin D levels may be more common in women with PCOS compared with the general population. While vitamin D is not a cure for PCOS, maintaining healthy levels m

If you’ve been avoiding fat to manage your weight, this could be holding you back Many women with PCOS have been told some version of: “Eat low fat” “Cut calories” “Avoid high-fat foods” So it’s no surprise that fats are often the first thing to go. But here’s what I see in practice, and what research supports: When fat intake is too low (or poor quality), it can actually make symptoms like: Cravings Energy dips Hormonal imbalance Weight struggles harder to manage. Healthy fa

Many women with PCOS struggle with symptoms that seem to affect multiple areas of the body at once. You may experience: bloating after meals fatigue and low energy cravings and appetite changes digestive discomfort irregular bowel habits skin flare-ups feeling puffy or inflamed or symptoms that worsen during stressful periods. At first, these symptoms can feel completely unrelated. But increasingly, research suggests that gut health may influence several systems involved in P

Bloating is one of the most frustrating symptoms many women with PCOS experience. You may feel: uncomfortable after meals swollen by the evening puffy around the stomach or as though your body changes throughout the day. Some women describe: looking noticeably more bloated at night feeling uncomfortable in clothes struggling with digestive discomfort or feeling inflamed and sluggish overall. Bloating can feel confusing because there is rarely one single cause. With PCOS, bloa

If you have PCOS, it can feel like every week there is a new diet being recommended online. One day it is: low carb keto fasting cutting out dairy avoiding gluten or removing entire food groups For many women, this becomes exhausting. You try to “be good”, follow strict food rules, then life gets busy, energy drops, cravings increase and everything feels difficult to maintain. This is one reason more women with PCOS are becoming interested in a Mediterranean-style approach to

Eating the Right Amount for PCOS – Key Points Portion sizes vary by activity, weight, and cycle phase. Focus on balanced meals: protein, fibre, healthy fats. Watch hunger, energy, and blood sugar cues. Avoid restrictive dieting; aim for sustainable portions. Track meals and symptoms to personalise nutrition. Welcome to Ask Lisa, a monthly Q&A series where I answer real questions from women navigating PCOS in everyday life. These are the kinds of questions that come up in cons

PCOS and Pregnancy Planning – Key Points Nutrition and lifestyle choices can support hormone balance and ovulation. Focus on stabilising blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and maintaining a healthy weight. Balanced meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats support fertility. Tracking cycles and symptoms helps identify patterns and optimise timing. Evidence-based strategies can improve chances of conception and overall reproductive health. Thinking About Pregnancy with PCOS

Why Eating Out Feels So Complicated with PCOS If you’ve ever felt anxious or stuck trying to make the “right” food choice at a restaurant, you’re in the right place. Eating out with PCOS can feel like a minefield - especially when you’re trying to manage blood sugar, cravings, weight or inflammation . Many of the women I work with want to eat out occasionally without undoing progress, feeling bloated for days, or spiralling into guilt. The good news is, you don’t need to sti

If you’re living with PCOS, you’ve likely heard the term “inflammation” more than once, and for good reason. Chronic low-grade...

If you’ve been told to just “eat less and move more” for PCOS weight loss , you're not getting the full picture. PCOS affects multiple...