September is PCOS Awareness Month

By Steven A. Foley, M.D., Contributing Physician

In my Cobble’s Corner guest article, ‘Looking Forward’ to Early Screening: Case 349, I detail the challenges of treating PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and reference the importance of diet.

September is PCOS Awareness month, and this week’s Health Byte from the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association (PCOSA) has some great tips for physicians and their patients on maintaining a low-carb, high-protein, PCOS-healthy diet.

Simple Ways to Cut Back on High Carbs for PCOS Health

PCOS-linked symptoms, including weight gain for some women, often stems from consuming too many refined carbohydrates from food favorites.

For example, a coating made with flour and breadcrumbs can quickly turn a healthy dish like fish into high-carb meal. A one-quarter cup of breadcrumbs contains 20g of carbs, for instance.

But a little creativity can enable you to have your crunch and stay in the healthy eating zone. Great, flavorful substitutions for bread crumbs include nuts, seeds, and (unsweetened) whole grain cereal flakes (in moderation). All of them can be crushed up in a plastic storage bag and used to coat fish fillets, chicken, shrimp, veggies or anything else you’d normally coat with bread crumbs.

For crab cakes, meatballs, meatloaf and other foods that need help staying together, try mixing up a paste of garbanzo bean or tapioca flour and beaten egg to use as a binder, instead of bread crumbs and egg. When making crab cakes, use real crab meat; imitation crab contains added sugar.

About Dr. Steven A. Foley
Dr. Foley is a graduate of the Indiana University Medical School. Prior to moving to Colorado Springs, he practiced obstetrics/gynecology at the Castleton Health Care Center, ClearVista Women’s Care, and Lifetime Wellness in Indiana. He joined Advanced Gynecology in 2004.

Dr. Foley is one of the foremost experts in PCOS and issues associated with it such as Insulin Resistance. He has a passion to educate the community, patients and healthcare professional about this syndrome.

In addition to the variety of other procedures, Dr. Foley provides inter-stim treatment for bladder control. More information can be found here or by calling our office.

He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics-Gynecology and is a member of the American College of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Indiana State Medical Association, Christian Medical and Dental Society, and the Wesleyan Medical Fellowship. He has medical privileges at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital, Memorial Hospital, Audubon, and Premier Surgery Centers. Dr. Foley is a national speaker with Quest Diagnostics and Atherotech.