Oh, the carb… I’ve been following a low carb (or low glycemic index) diet since about 1998 to treat my PCOS. At that time we were just beginning to understand that PCOS was connected to insulin resistance- today I hope that most people who are involved in treating PCOS understand that ‘lifestyle’ is the key to managing this complicated syndrome.
It wasn’t easy giving up the foods that we all love. But once I did- my menstrual cycle found a real 28 day rhythm – and I can’t begin to tell you how much of a difference that makes! I think Kawana who I interviewed for Scrambled put it better than anyone- when you don’t have a regular period- you feel like you are constantly in a “Funk”.
Every woman’s PCOS is different. What works for me might not work for you, and what works for me today might not even work for me tomorrow! Learning our own ‘trigger foods’ and seeing how much carbohydrate we can tolerate is part of an important feedback loop. Learning to pay attention to the subtle shifts in how we feel becomes a crutial point of attention, and essential to our healing. Many of us have been plagued for years by energy/mood fluctuations, weight gain, menstrual irregularity and cravings that feel impossible to control- and it is amazing to feel the veil of all that murkiness lifting!
It is important to understand that carbohydrate cravings are biochemical – the excess insulin we produce makes us want more carbohydrate. The cravings don’t represent some kind of moral or character failing. It is not our fault! The person who can eat one square of chocolate and feel pleased and satisfied has a different set of chemical responses happening in her body.
In some ways changing my diet wasn’t too hard. I love to cook and I don’t eat out often- my Mom taught me very healthy ways of cooking and a great appreciation of vegetables. I’ve learned that as long as I stay away from foods that set me off- my cravings fade away and I have a pretty peaceful relationship with food. For me that means anything sweet. Yes, unfortunately for me that means even fruit.
People sometimes kindly offer ‘just a taste’ of dessert to me- and I’ve learned that I must refuse. There has never been a ‘just a taste’ moment for me. That first bite leads to more, and suddenly I’m waking up in the morning wondering where I’m going to find my next sweet. I have a lot of compassion for people who struggle with drinking or smoking or drugs- and I understand how when an addiction is biochemical – moderation is not an option.
But craving isn’t the same as longing. As I write now I feel longing for what I don’t eat… but I don’t feel craving. In the moments when craving comes over me, nothing else matters but finding and then finishing the container of ice cream or bag of cookies. I want to stop, but a stronger energy directs my action. I think I should have the ‘will power’… but my body is speaking a different language. For me- abstinence is the only way to handle the cravings. The less sweets I eat, the less I want.
There is another class of carbohydrates that I sometimes dabble in – but try to seriously minimize and keep out of the house- things like bread, potatoes, and grains. As long as I eat a little bit- a bite or two- with a full meal complete with protein and fat I can tolerate them. But if a loaf of bread was in my house it would not last very long.
I like how Martha McKittrick speaks about the importance of letting go of ideas about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods. There are no ‘evil’ foods- and I certainly can’t blame my ancestral foods like pasta or challah for the fact that my body doesn’t respond well to them!
After years of trying to avoid the foods that tempt me I am learning to find less anxiety by appreciating the world-of-carbs as beautiful gifts from the universe and great expressions of culture. I respect the carbohydrate’s immense role in the development of humanity, the joy and energy it brings people, and I look forward to a day when we know how to treat the underlying insulin resistance associated with PCOS and I will sit in the sun and once again enjoy the sweetness of an apple.
