PCOS Friendly Fats

PCOS Friendly Fats

PCOS Friendly Fats

Did you know that there was such a thing as PCOS friendly fats? Well, if you didn’t thank goodness you landed on my page! I am so happy to have YOU!

There is no denying that fat should be an integral part of any women’s diet. But this is especially true for the diets of women with PCOS. For these amazing women, eating fat (and the right type!) is actual critical to their overall health. There are SO many ways dietary fats are beneficial. Where the heck do I even begin!?!

Number one, they give your body with energy to support cell growth. They also help protect your organs and help keep your body warm. Fats also help your body absorb vitamins, mineral and important nutrients. They also form the backbone of your sex hormones. This last part is especially important, as we know PCOS is a disorder marked by imbalances in hormones. If women don’t take in enough fat then they don’t have the natural resources to correct these imbalances.

Not to mention – fats made us feel FULL! And who does not want to feel full? Fats are such an important part of our diet – yet many women with PCOS tend to shy away from them. And the plot thickens ….

women with PCOS are twice as likely to suffer from athersclerosis

Did you know that women with PCOS are twice as likely to suffer from atherosclerosis than women without syndrome? Yup. This is because many women with PCOS, by nature of the disorder, have several inherent risk factors for heart disease. Many women with PCOS present with central adiposity (excess weight in the belly area), high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low ‘good’ cholesterol levels.  All of these risks significantly raise their risk heart disease and stroke.

SO I know what you are probably thinking …

“Hey Amy! So you are telling me that women with PCOS are already at risk for heart disease and you still want me to eat fat? What gives?!? Have you lost your little mind?”

Believe me on this one, cysta!

The simple answer – “Absolutely!” But fret not, the PCOS dietitian is here to give you the skinny on the best types of fats to include in your diet. But I will warn you – the explanation is anything but simple. You see, it critical to note that not all fats are created equal. Some are better for us than others. But even saying that is oversimplifying fats. The quality of fats are dictated by where they come from, how they are processed, raised or prepared as well as additives or preservatives it may contain. All these variables come into play when we considering whether a fat “good” for us or not. In future blogs we tackle the types of fats you should avoid – but onward to the good stuff!

 

PCOS Friendly Fats

 

Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs)

Let me count the ways I love monounsaturated fats (MUFAs)! MUFA’s can have a beneficial effect on your heart by optimizing your cholesterol levels. One of the ways that MUFAs do this is that they help lower the “bad” types of cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and while increasing the “good” (HDL) kind.

Tip: When trying to figure out the two cholesterol levels remember it this way: LDL is your lousy cholesterol and you want this level LOW, while HDL is the healthy cholesterol and you want these levels HIGH.

By optimizing these two values you can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, research supports that MUFAs may also benefit insulin levels and blood sugar control, which can be especially helpful for women with PCOS. Trifecta! Talk about being a PCOS friendly fat!  Monounsaturated fats also offer nutrients to help with cell development and provide a good source of vitamin E in the diet. Where can you get your hands on these lovelys? The PCOS Dietitian would not leave you hanging!

Examples of Monounsaturated fats

olive oil bottle healthy fats

Foods high in healthy MUFAs include: olives, extra virgin olive oil, cold-processed sesame oil, avocados, peanut butter, and many nuts (almonds, peanuts, macadamia, hazel, pecan and cashew) and seeds (sesame & pumpkin)

pumpkins seeds are really a PCOS friendly fat

                                                     But when speaking of the good –  there is always an exception to the rule – Refined Monounsaturated Fats

Canola oil, peanut oil and safflower oil are also monounsaturated fats. However, they are what I would consider modern refined processed oils. The majority of these crops are grown from genetically modified seeds. The oils are treated with high heat and toxic solvents. The processing increases the shelf life of the oils and removes most of the natural flavoring, making them more attractive for the industrial food industry. Please limit your intake of these types of oils as much as possible.

Buying tip: Most olive oils are actually blends of several oils including vegetable oils. Therefore, when buying olive oil look for the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) logo. For Italian olive oils look for (DOP), Spanish (DO) and ones from France (AOC) to make sure it is authentic.

How Much Do You Need of Monounsaturated Fats?

No need to go krazy! All fats, including monounsaturated fats, are high in calories, so use MUFAs only relative to your personalized daily fat requirements. Consume MUFA-rich foods instead of other fatty foods, NOT in addition to them! The goal for your overall fat intake should be around 25-35 % of your total calories. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated should make up the bulk of this.

Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs)

Well, I have to say, I have just as much love for PUFAs as I do for MUFAs. When you pour your favorite cooking oil into a pan, there’s a good chance you’re using a polyunsaturated fat. Polyunsaturated fats are used to build cell membranes and line the covering of nerves. They are needed for blood clotting, muscle movement, and for controlling inflammation. Studies support that eating polyunsaturated fats in place of saturated fats or highly refined carbohydrates reduces harmful LDL cholesterol and has a positive effect on the cholesterol profile. They can also help lower triglycerides.

Examples of Polyunsaturated fats

 Examples of foods high in polyunsaturated fats include: walnuts, sunflower seeds, organic tofu, soybeans, and fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and trout.

Salmon contains lots of PCOS friendly fats

 

Note – just like the monounsaturated oils – canola, safflower and peanut oil – soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil also fall under the same ill as those modernized processed oils. They too are highly processed oils that go through an insane amount of processing with chemical solvents, steamers, neutralizers, de-waxers, bleach and deodorizers before they end up in the bottle. So please, when possible reduce their use in your cooking and limit your general consumption of foods that contain them.

 

Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Superstars

But on a much more positive note, I bet you have heard of the superstar Omega 3 fatty acids! Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fats the body cannot produce. Therefore, we need to consume these guys in the diet.

PCOS Friendly Fats include foods like oysters

 Did you know that there are three different types of omega 3 fatty acids? The three types are DHA, EPA & AHA. DHA and EPA are the preferrable form and are found in foods like cold-water fish and algae. While ALA is found more in plant foods such as nuts and seeds, as well as in grass-fed beef.

The Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

The benefits of omega 3 fatty acids are seemingly endless! When consumed in right amounts they are known to help with everything from promoting a healthy pregnancy, to decreasing the risks for depression, dementia and even memory loss. Inflammation in the body can damage your blood vessels and lead to heart disease and stroke. Omega-3 fatty acids may decrease triglycerides, lower blood pressure slightly, reduce blood clotting, decrease stroke and heart failure risk and reduce irregular heartbeats. Not too shabby, right?

Examples of Foods Containing Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Foods that are high in omega 3’s include salmon (wild caught & sockeye), herring, mackerel, anchovies, oysters, sardines, pole & line caught tuna and lake trout. Vegetarian sources include algae (seaweed) walnuts and flax.

Buying tip: Polyunsaturated fats are much more vulnerable than monounsaturated fats. PUFAs are sensitive to light, air and sunlight. Therefore, keep foods high in PUFA’s away from direct light and when permissive keep in the refrigerator to prevent them from going rancid.

How Much Do You Need of Polyunsaturated Fats?

As important as PUFAs are there is no set requirement. However, the American Heart Association recommends eating at least 6 ounces of cold-water fish twice per week. If you do not like fish or feel like you are falling short on your intake, you may want to talk to your physician about a supplement. It’s especially important to consult your health care provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you take medicine that affects blood clotting, if you are allergic to seafood, or if you are considering giving a child an omega-3 supplement.

       Still stumped on how to get more PCOS friendly fats in your diet? Let the PCOS Dietitian give you some fun and fresh ideas.

 

Five Ways to Incorporate More PCOS Friendly Fats Into Your Diet

 1. Go nuts!

Snack on nuts instead of salty, carb-laden pretzels and chips. Nuts are a great source of heart healthy fats, super tasty and even come in single serving bags. Just make sure to keep your serving to around ¼ cup which equals around 180 calories, 14 grams of fat (almost all mono & polyunsaturated!), 6 grams of protein and 6 grams of carbohydrates.

Almonds are a PCOS Friendly Fat

Tip: Trader Joes sells pre-portioned almonds and cashews called ‘Just a Handful of Almonds.” If you are looking for something with a bit more spice and kick the Emerald brand sells 100-calorie packs of flavored cashews, almonds and walnuts. The flavors range from Siracha, to jalapeño to chocolate and cinnamon. These are great to throw in your car, desk drawer or car. They travel extremely well.

 

 

 

 

2. Become Sandwich Savvy

Replace your cheese and/or mayonnaise on your sandwich with sliced avocado or even guacamole. This quick little swap decreases your intake of unhealthy fats while boosting your intake of monounsaturated fats. It also adds a whole new dimension to your ho-hum lunch!

 Tip: It seems like it always so hard to get avocados ‘just right.’ They always seem to be too hard or too ripe. Just a quick tip if they are green and unripe is to put them in a brown bag (just like you would other fruits!) and that will speed the ripening process. On the flip side, if you have an avocado on the counter that looks perfect – but you are not ready to use it – throw it in the fridge. This will halt the ripening process.

 

 3. Nut Butters

Nut butters – need I say more?!? I sometimes wish nut butters were a food group. If they were I would be SO in love!

PCOS friendly fats of peanut butter

Nowadays you can get almost every nut in spreadable form. Gone are the days when you could just get peanut butter. Now you can get cashew, almond, and hazelnut butters and my personal favorite – sunflower seed butter! Spread any of these heart healthy butters on celery, apples, bananas or even swirl into your morning oatmeal. But just like any fat be mindful that each tablespoon of nut butter packs a whopping 100 calories and 6 grams of fat. Yes, it is healthy fat – but next thing you know that “little” bit of peanut turned into half the jar. Sounds familiar?

Tip: When buying peanut butter always go organic! The crops are heavily sprayed and no one needs all those chemicals in their body. Also brands such a Skippy & Jiff (unless they state they are “natural”) contain hydrogenated fats – so don’t touch those bad boys with a ten-foot pole.

 4. Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia

Discover the magic of chia seeds. Chia seeds are loaded with fiber, calcium, antioxidants and Omega 3’s. They are a true super food. You can pretty much buy them in any grocery store including the obvious ones like Trader Joes and Whole Foods. A small bag goes for around $6 – $8 depending upon the brand. A small bag supplies well over 40 servings!

You can sprinkle on your yogurt, blend into your smoothies or make some killer chia pudding! See my recipe below for this tasty treat.

This is a Chia Pudding Recipe noting the PCOS friendly fats

 

Tip: Remember what we said about polyunsaturated fats like Omega 3’s? They are vulnerable to oxidation. Storing them in the refrigerator will extend their shelf life. However, most chia seeds come in special vacuum-sealed packaging. These packages can be stored at room temperature until they are opened. Once opened, throw the whole bag in the fridge to maintain their freshness.

5. Make your own salad dressings

Making your own salad dressing is SO easy! Once you start doing this – you will be ashamed you ever bought the crap in a bottle.  Plus, it a terrific way to get your PCOS friendly fats in AND your greens.

I urge you experiment with different types of oils when making your dressings. Have you tried avocado oil? It is a super mild oil that blends nicely with various vinegars, acids such as lemon and lime. How about walnut oil? It pairs awesome with balsamic and maple syrup. Check out the recipes below. You can always tweak the ingredients to suit your palate!

 

Avocado Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

3 tablespoon Avocado Oil

1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 clove Garlic, grated or crushed

Zest of 1/2 Lemon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon back pepper

For the Vinaigrette:

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl. Top off your favorite bowl of salad greens!

 

 

Lighten-Up Lemon Walnut Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons minced shallots (onions will work, too!)

2 tablespoons walnut oil

1 tablespoons REAL maple syrup (you can adjust up or down depending upon how sweet you like it!)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Combine all ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week. A mason jar is a great storage vehicle.

 Phew that was a lot of info!  Hopefully I have convinced you of all the awesome benefits of including PCOS friendly fats in your diet. Rather than shy away from, you know have the important tools to make the most educated decisions when it comes to which fats to choose to support your PCOS. But as always I would love to hear your thoughts. What are some of your favorite MUFAs and PUFAs? What are your strategies for fitting them in your diet? Tell us in the comments below!

Support for women with PCOS  

Amy Plano PCOS Dietitian

PCOS Friendly Snacks – Parsnip Chips

PCOS Friendly Snacks – Parsnip Chips

PCOS Snacks – Parsnip Chips

Hello Y’All!

It’s Thursday and you know what that means? It means it is time to talk PCOS friendly snacks! Last week we talked about my little sweet and salty finds – Trader Joe’s Unsalted Peanut Butter Pretzels. If you missed last week’s posts and you love peanut butter half as much as I do – click here to read what you missed. Those nuggets are amazing! So onward to another PCOS Friendly Snack 🙂 

This week I decided to keep the Trader Joe’s theme going. But instead, this week I wanted to share something a bit saltier – or at least tastes saltier! Trader Joe’s Parsnips Chips.

PCOS Friendly Snack  – Trader Joes Parsnip Chips 

If you don’t already know – I love Trader Joes. Not only is it about 1/8 of a mile from my office – but it right on the way home from Crossfit. The people who work there are also so friggin’ nice! Plus they almost always have samples which a foodie like me loves, loves, loves. I sometimes feel like it sometimes my home away from home. Every time I am in there – I am always on the hunt for different PCOS friendly foods and snacks that taste good. Most days I end up feeling accomplished and happy. Today was a good day 🙂  I found these gems: 

This image is a bag of the PCOS Friendly Snacks - Trader Joes Parsnip Chips

Trader Joe’s Parsnip Chips – A great substitute for regular chips, $2.99 for about a 5 ounce bag

I have to say I was not sure what to expect when I bought them. I am generally not disappointed with anything I buy at Trader Joes and these “chips” were no exception. These chips reminded me somewhat of plantain chips – but not AS sweet. Don’t get me wrong they certainly do have a certain level of sweetness to them – but not nearly the same sweet after-flavor of plantain chips. I found the chips super crunchy and thicker than regular potato chips. But let’s see how they stack up nutritionally against their competitor — a standard serving of potato chips. 

How Do Parsnip Chips compare with Regular Potato Chips? DO they live up to the PCOS Friendly Snack Hype?

Serving Size 

Serving size is about 12 chips. This is pretty similar to regular potato chips in which you get around 15 potato chips per serving which is also the equivalent of 1 ounce of chips. Calorie wise they are slighter lower than the same size serving of potato chips. The parsnip chips have 120 calories per serving while potato chips have about 130 – 170 calories per serving. 

Fat Content

The fat between the parsnips chip and regular potato chips is almost even. Both types of chips have about 12 grams per serving. While this is not crazy crazy crazy high – it could cut into a hefty portion of your fat grams for the day. 

Carbohydrate Count

The main difference between regular chips and parsnip chips (and the reason I even wanted to talk about them!) is the carbohydrate content. The parsnip chips only have 3 grams of carbohydrates. Yes you heard me correctly – the parsnip chips have 3 grams of carbohydrates per serving while regular chips (depending upon the brand and style) have anywhere from 14 – 25 grams per servings. So in the world of PCOS – that is a BFD (Big Friggin’ Deal – if you were wondering!) 

The is label for Trader Joe's Parsnip Chips which is a PCOS friendly snack

The label for Trader Joe’s Parsnip Chips

Low Salt 

The salt content of the parsnip chips are also substantially lower than regular chips. The parsnip chips only have 90 mg of sodium – while most regular chips have anywhere from 150 – 300 mg per serving depending once again on the brand and style. Flavored potato chips often have the most sodium per serving – so beware. You want to stay under 1, 800 mg of sodium for the day. 

Overall verdict

The parsnip chips are solid. I would rank them an 8/10. They fit the criteria for a PCOS friendly snack. They are certainly a better choice than regular potato chips for women with PCOS due to their lower carbohydrate count. But they are still fairly high in fat and contain no protein. That does not make them a bad choice – it just means just like any other snack in your diet we must have the proper “budget” left in our daily requirements.

I felt that the serving of 12 was more than enough to fill me up. I think this was due to the high fat content of the chips. If you have more calories left in your snack budget – I might suggest eating them with a couple of tablespoons of hummus or guacamole. I did enjoy them and do feel when consumed in moderation they could be an interesting addition to your PCOS friendly snack arsenal. And remember variety is the spice of life for sure when it comes to snacking. 

Have you tried this latest find? What did you think ? Yay or nay? Give us the 411 on your favorite PCOS friendly snacks. I would love to hear what you are munching on! Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.

Support for women with PCOS

Amy Plano PCOS Dietitian

PCOS Friendly Snacks – Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels

PCOS Friendly Snacks – Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels

PCOS friendly snack of the Week 

 

Happy Thursday Y’All! Today I wanted to share with you my favorite PCOS friendly snack of the week.

 

So I have been thinking lately — and one of the questions I often get from women who have PCOS is,  “What can I snack on?” I thought it would be helpful to provide you with a PCOS friendly snack that checks all the boxes. These might be snacks that I am already recommending – or they might be new finds (you know I heart grocery stores!) I want to introduce to the PCOS community. So onward to the method to my madness!

 

PCOS friendly snack

 

 

If you have already worked with me you know that I look at all foods in context of the allowable carbohydrates for the whole day. What that means is –  everything works around your daily carbohydrate budget.

So if you have a carbohydrate budget of 120 grams per day (think about it like I am giving you $120 to spend on carbs!) – and you spend 30 grams on each breakfast, lunch and dinner you have used 90 grams of your allowable carbohydrates. This leaves you with 30 grams of carbohydrates to spend on snacks! Yay – hooray! So what count as a PCOS friendly snack? I thought you would never ask!

What is a PCOS Friendly Snack?

 

Typically I like to see 2-3 snacks per day for women with PCOS. These snacks can range anywhere from 0 – 20 grams of carbohydrates and from 50 – 150 calories. I set the upper limit at around 20 grams of carbohydrates as I want to minimize any excessive spikes in insulin.

 

So now that you the know the “why” now let me tell you the PCOS friendly snack I am enjoying this week.

 

PCOS friendly snack

 

Just like everyone I get bored with snacks. So this week when I was in Traders I on the hunt for something different. The Trader Joes Unsalted Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels caught my eye for numerous reasons and of course ended up in my cart! But you may be asking ….

 

What Makes Trader Joes Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels a PCOS friendly snack ? 

 

Serving Size

First check out the serving size!  You get 11 pretzels for 140 calories. That’s not too shabby. Calorie wise this fits my criteria of being > 150 calories. Score!

 

Baby got fat! And that is a GOOD Thing! 

Next – I love the fact that this snack has a decent amount of fat  – 8 grams to be exact. I like snacks that have fat (and protein, too!) in them as I find they provide a certain level of fullness many women with PCOS need. When people eat foods that are low in fats – they tend to not be very filling. What this means is that in no time – their stomachs are growling and they are prowling for the next snack. Remember – the goal of snacking is to stabilize blood sugar and help curve hunger. The 8 grams of fat in these little nuggets should definitely help with that!

 

Low in Carbohydrates 

Carbohydrate- wise these pretzels are a score – they only have 14 grams of carbs per 11 pretzels. They also have 2 grams of fiber in them as they are made from wheat flour. This should add to the fat content and contribute to your feeling of fullness when you eat this little suckers.

 

PCOS friendly snack

Push the Protein 

 

While they are not what I would consider a high protein snack (I consider foods with > 8 grams of protein per serving a higher protein snack) – they do have 5 grams of protein.  It is no surprise that high-protein snacks, as well as balanced meals, have been linked to increased satiety.

 

In fact, several studies have suggested that protein-containing snacking have the potential to boost satiety and facilitate weight loss. In a longitudinal study, researchers gave 17 men and women with type 2 diabetes moderately high-protein morning and afternoon snacks (5 g to 12 g of protein) for four weeks, and compared the results with their normal eating habits for four weeks. The subjects who ate the two high-protein snacks lost a modest but significant amount of weight (1 kg) during the four-week period. Researchers noted that the subjects’ weight reduction occurred without making any changes in total energy intake (1).

 

Therefore, not only are these pretzels delicious – they can help promote weight loss. Did someone say winner-winner chicken dinner!?!

 

Low in Sodium 

 

Sodium wise – they this PCOS friendly snack is a home run. They only have 80 mg of sodium per serving. I like to keep snacks < 300 mg of sodium whenever possible. We know that many women who have PCOS are pre-disposed to heart disease and hypertension. So in light of that information there is no need to “sodium bomb” anyone! Of note – Trader Joe’s does sell a salted version of these pretzels – but they have about 200 mg more of salt per serving.

 

PCOS friendly snack

 

Magic in your Mouth 

 

It goes without saying that these pretzels taste amazing. They have just the right amount of peanut butter – not too much and definitely not too little. I have tried both the salted and the non-salted version and I actually prefer this version to the former. Most pretzels all you taste is the salt – not these guys. All you taste is the crunchy goodness – and for only 14 grams of carbs these are a true winner in the PCOS snack bag. They are just SO good!

 

 

So I would love to know what YOU are snacking on. Have you tried Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter filled pretzels? If SO what ya’ think? Love or hate? What’s in your snack cabinet? Let us know in the comments below. As you know we can never have too many awesome snacks that are PCOS friendly!

 

Need other suggestions for PCOS friendly snacks? Check out one of my other blog posts that sure to delight your sweet tooth!

 

Support for women with PCOS

 

 

 

Amy Plano PCOS Dietitian

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

1. Navas-Carretero S, Abete I, Zulet MA, Martinez JA. Chronologically scheduled snacking with high-protein products within the habitual diet in type-2 diabetes patients leads to a fat mass loss: a longitudinal study. Nutr J. 2011;10:74.