A whole foods plant-based diet is effective for treating PCOS because it has a broad range of effects that target the underlying hormonal and metabolic abnormalities of the condition.

See also Diabetes and Acne section of this website.

Resources

• The PCOS Diet Ultimate Guide – Best and Worst Foods – by Kylie Buckner, RN, 2020
• What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? Unpacking the Connections Between Diet and PCOS –
  this article is adapted from The Plant-Based Dietitian’s Guide to Fertility, by Lisa Simon, RD.
• The Best Diet for PCOS – Exam Room podcast interview with Alison Tierney and Dr Neal Barnard
• Barnard, N. D. (2020). Your body in balance, Grand Central Publishing, NY.
• Hormone Dependent Diseases (Male & Female) – Dr John McDougall has written about women’s health for many years. He published a book, McDougalls Medicine for Women in 1999. This link discusses health problems caused by the abnormal hormone levels that the Standard (Australian) diet causes.
• I Have PCOS. What Should I Eat? – Michelle McMacken, MD
• Best Foods for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – Dr Michael Greger (7 min video)
• What does the research say about dietary interventions on women with PCOS? – Joseph Gonzales, RD on behalf of NutritionFacts.org
• Plant-based diets for the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – Robyn Chuter

Peer-reviewed articles

• Marsh, K., & Brand-Miller, J. (2005). The optimal diet for women with polycystic ovary syndrome? British Journal of Nutrition, 94(2), 154-165.

Success stories

• Episode 83 Disordered Eating, IBS, Polycystic Ovaries & A Plant-Based Diet – Emilly Sonsie (Corinne Nijjer podcast)
• Episode 80 Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Almost Destroyed Geena’s Self Confidence, Until She Found A Plant-Based Diet – Geena-Rose Burton (Corinne Nijjer podcast)
• Herbie of the Week: Lauren S (She No Longer Suffers From IBS, PCOS or Acne!)
• Herbie of the Week: Lynne (She Beat PCOS & Infertility!)
• Herbie of the Week: Beth (She Beat Infertility and PCOS!)
• Herbie of the Week: Natasha! (She’s Lost Over 115lbs & No Longer Suffers from PCOS!)
• Herbie of the Week: Sommer! (She’s Lost 75lbs & Beat PCOS with a Plant-Based Diet!)
• Herbie of the Week: Michelle G (She’s Managing Her PCOS Symptoms with a Plant-Based Diet!)

Page last updated 23 September 2020