General, non-PCOS specific health advice
In the meantime while I start rounding up the PCOS research, here's a reminder of what you can do to stay healthy generally.
1. Eat your 5-a-day
Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins you need to live as well as being a valuable source of fibre. Make sure you are getting enough of them. A glass of orange juice and a banana is not enough.2. Exercise
A lot of people with PCOS know that they need to lose weight and look for dietary changes they can make in order to bring that about. However, you cannot out-diet a sedentary lifestyle. You cannot be healthy if you do not exercise regularly. The NHS says you need:- at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or brisk walking every week, and
- strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms)
3. Spend less time sitting down
If, like most of us, you have a job where you spend most of your time sitting down, consider asking HR for a height-adjustable desk so that you can spend some time standing up, or sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair. Consider conducting meetings standing up and walking around on the phone. Don't spend your lunch break sitting down - go for a walk instead. Consider standing up on public transport rather than sitting or driving. And don't forget - you probably don't spend all your time at work. Cultivate hobbies so that you can spend your free time standing up, like sports (e.g. running, bowling, archery, football), painting, stargazing, cooking, going to museums/galleries, etc.
4. Get enough sleep
Enough said really. Stop using electronics about an hour before you go to bed, and install f.lux on your computer for sounder sleep. Don't drink excessive amounts of coffee or alcohol.
Comments
Post a Comment