PCOS Nutritionist Blog

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,

Intermittent fasting is often promoted online as a solution for: weight loss insulin resistance inflammation and hormone balance So it is understandable that many women with PCOS wonder whether they should try it too. Some women do report benefits from fasting approaches. But for many others, especially those already struggling with: cravings fatigue stress emotional eating or inconsistent eating patterns fasting can sometimes make symptoms feel worse rather than better. This

If you have PCOS and often feel: hungry soon after eating exhausted by the afternoon constantly craving sugar or stuck in cycles of “being good” all day then overeating at night blood sugar instability may be playing a bigger role than you realise. Many women with PCOS are told they have “insulin resistance”, but are never properly shown: what this actually feels like in everyday life. Instead, they are often given: confusing diet advice lists of foods to avoid strict meal pl

If you have PCOS and feel like you’ve tried every “quick fix” under the sun, only to end up back at square one, you are in the right place. Many women describe the same pattern: starting a strict plan on Monday cutting back food, carbs or calories feeling in control for a few days then experiencing intense cravings feeling tired, irritable or overwhelmed overeating in the evenings or at weekends feeling like they’ve “failed” and starting over again Over time, this can feel ex

If you have PCOS and often feel: hungry again by mid-morning exhausted by 3pm craving sugar or snacks in the evening constantly relying on caffeine to function your breakfast could be playing a bigger role than you realise. Many women with PCOS either: skip breakfast completely grab something quick and carb-heavy rely on coffee alone eat breakfasts that simply do not keep them full for long Then later in the day: energy crashes cravings increase hunger feels harder to control

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’ve been researching ways to lose weight with PCOS, you’ve likely come across the ketogenic diet more than once. It’s often positioned as the answer when nothing else seems to work. Rapid weight loss. Fewer cravings. Better blood sugar control. And if you’re feeling stuck with stubborn weight, constant hunger, or irregular cycles, it makes sense that something structured and “proven” feels appealing. But before you cut out most carbohydrates and commit to a highly restr

If you're reading this with a sinking feeling of recognition, eating salads, hitting the gym, tracking every calorie, yet the scales won't budge – you're in the right place. As a registered nutritionist specialising in PCOS weight loss and fertility in the UK, I hear this story daily. Women who are doing "everything right" according to traditional diet advice, yet their bodies seem to be working against them. The truth? When you have PCOS, the conventional weight loss rule bo

If you have PCOS and often feel: starving by late afternoon desperate for sugar after work constantly reaching for snacks exhausted between meals out of control around food in the evenings the issue may not be that you are snacking. In many cases, the body may actually be asking for: more consistent energy and nourishment throughout the day. Many women with PCOS have been taught that snacking is “bad” or something to avoid when trying to lose weight. But for some women, strat

If you have PCOS, you’ve probably heard that balancing blood sugar is important. But knowing what to do in theory and understanding how your body actually responds to food, stress and daily life are very different things. This is where functional health tests like DUTCH hormones cycle mapping, DNA and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can be a powerful learning tool. For many women I work with, especially those struggling with stubborn weight gain, cravings, energy crashes

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

Why most “healthy” smoothies can make PCOS symptoms worse Smoothies are often marketed as the go-to “healthy” breakfast, quick, convenient, and packed with fruit. But this is where many women with PCOS unknowingly run into problems. Most smoothies are built around: Banana Mango Pineapple Fruit juice Honey or dates While these ingredients are often labelled as “natural”, they can create a very high sugar load, especially when blended and consumed quickly. In fact, many typical

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

Many women I speak to feel as if they’re constantly “firefighting” symptoms of PCOS. The stalled weight loss, sugar crashes, skin concerns, cycle changes, or exhaustion that seems to appear out of nowhere. But what often sits underneath these daily struggles is something bigger happening metabolically. One of the most important long-term considerations for women with PCOS is the increased likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome. It sounds like a complicated medical term,

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

If you’ve been told your PCOS is something you’ll “just have to live with,” it can feel frustrating, overwhelming, and at times,...

If you’ve been prescribed a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, Saxenda, or Mounjaro for PCOS-related weight gain, you're in the right place to learn more about it from a nutritional perspective. These drugs can lead to short-term weight loss, and for many women with PCOS who’ve struggled for years, they can feel like a lifeline. But there’s something many aren’t told: without the right nutrition and hormone support, the long-term results often don’t last. I’ve worked with women w