Hearing about problems like ovarian cysts or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has become quite common these days and this has bought about a level of awareness among women to take care of their body systems over and above their normal routines. A regimen without a well-balanced diet and with the absence of adequate exercise or physical activity becomes the source of PCOS and therefore as a solution to this problem we list here some of the foods to include and avoid as well as some yoga exercises that will help women to get control over this problem of ovarian cysts.
Since it is the unhealthy lifestyle which leads to problems like ovarian cysts, it is this arena where the rectification is required the most. The primary change that you need to bring into your lifestyle to avoid a confrontation with such a disease is to change your dietary habits and include yoga exercise daily. A diet rich in foods like carbohydrates, processed foods, toxic fats and acidic foods may cause hormonal balance and lead to problems like ovarian cysts or PCOS. However, modifying these dietary patterns and doing yoga exercises can result in positive results. To start the diet planning, we need to consider the foods that are harmful for our body systems and try and avoid them the best we can.
Diet for Ovarian Cysts: Foods to Include
The below mentioned food items should be included in diet of patient suffering from ovarian cysts or PCOS.
Drink More Water: Best for flushing out the toxins from the body, the water intake should be increased if you are suffering from ovarian cysts.
Fresh Food & Vegetables: The fresher the food item, the more it will contain healthy nutrients. This is the rule and therefore, this should be a part of diet for patients suffering from ovarian cysts.
Nuts, Seeds & Olive Oil: Known to be rich in essential fatty acids, these foods rectify the damages done to the body and are a must include in the diet for ovarian cysts. Nuts, seeds and olive oil supply the body with the perfect nutrients and help maintain the hormonal levels and enhance the healing process in ovarian cysts patients.
Lentils & Chickpeas: These whole grains and pulses are known to reduce estrogen levels and in addition to being rich in proteins, lentils and chickpeas are an ideal part of diet for ovarian cyst patients.
Green Leafy Vegetables: Perfect source of high fiber, green leafy vegetables like spinach, chard and Bok choy are highly recommended for patients with ovarian cysts.
Foods Rich in Vitamin B6: Ideal for stimulating the hormonal levels, these foods not only help control ovarian cysts or PCOD, but accentuate weight loss too.
Diet for Ovarian Cysts: Foods to Avoid
Alcoholic Beverages: Known to increase estrogen levels if consumed on a regular basis, alcoholic beverages should be avoided to control the worsening symptoms of ovarian cysts or PCOS.
Caffeinated Drinks: Another spectrum of beverages that can cause a hormonal ruckus is the caffeinated beverages. These beverages have adverse effects on our systems and make it hard for them to recover. If these drinks cannot be eliminated from the diet then they should preferably be had without sugar, sweeteners, creams and/or dairy substitutes to tackle the problem of ovarian cysts.
Wheat Products: One component of wheat is phytic acid and this component is responsible for binding minerals like magnesium and zinc which are essential for maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. The binding of these nutrients does not let the body reap the benefits of the same. Therefore, wheat products should be excluded from the diet of patients with ovarian cysts; especially refined flour of refined wheat which is high in this component and less in fiber and contributes to the development of ovarian cysts.
Refined Sugar & Products: It is a known fact that an excess of sugar is never healthy for the body. But in case of women with PCOS symptoms, such as sugar and its products (processed food like cakes, cookies and candies) can create havoc in the body’s hormonal levels. Diet suggested for ovarian cysts or PCOS patients includes a completely fructose dependent diet.
White Rice: Known to be one of the purest forms of carbohydrates, the consumption of this product can worsen the symptoms of PCOS and can also neutralize the healing process, therefore white rice and products rich in carbohydrates should be avoided in the diet for ovarian cysts.
Red Meat, Dark Meat & Poultry: Avoiding these meats can not only avoid the problems of ovarian cysts, but removing them from the diet can also accentuate the healing process in PCOS.
Other Processed Foods and Foods Rich in Salt: Salt is known to enhance the acidic nature of our bodies leading to formation of cysts and ulcers; and therefore it is highly recommended that patients suffering from PCOS or ovarian cysts symptoms should switch to diet low in salt. Processed foods like cheese, yogurt, white bread and frozen foods are another set of foods which are low in their nutritional content and high in unhealthy components and hence they too should be eliminated from diet when coping with ovarian cysts.
Yoga Exercises for Ovarian Cysts
Once the stance on the dietary requirement is clear, we shift onto the exercises that are a must practice for women suffering from ovarian cysts or PCOS. Being the cornerstone of therapy for women with ovarian cysts or PCOS, exercise can reduce the size of the ovarian cysts in addition to helping the patient maintain a hormonal balance. Another benefit of regular exercise is losing the excess weight gained because of ovarian cysts. One of the best forms of exercise for women suffering from ovarian cysts is yoga. It helps in prevention and management of ovarian cysts in addition to relieving stress and imparting relaxation. Some yoga poses for ovarian cysts include:
Bhadrasana or Butterfly Pose for Treating Ovarian Cysts: If practiced with a cool mind, this yoga exercise is extremely beneficial for PCOS patients, as it helps open up the pelvic area and promotes relaxation, thus alleviating ovarian cysts symptoms.
Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar for Treating Ovarian Cysts: A compilation of 12 asanas, the Surya Namaskar not only helps control any hormonal imbalance, but helps enhance flexibility too. Ideal for losing weight too, this yoga pose is highly recommended for patients suffering from ovarian cysts.
Treating Ovarian Cysts with Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose: Known to stimulate ovarian function, this yoga exercise exerts pressure on the belly. Having a number of other benefits, this pose is extremely helpful in coping with ovarian cysts.
Naukasana or Boat Pose for Treating PCOS: This yoga exercise puts excess pressure on the abdominal muscles and is highly recommended for women suffering from ovarian cysts.
Dhanurasana or Bow Pose for Treating Ovarian Cysts: This exercise is perfect for relieving the stress in pelvic muscles and thus makes this asana ideal for women suffering from ovarian cysts or PCOS.
Treating PCOD with Warrior Pose or Superman Pose: Also known to be extremely beneficial for patients suffering from PCOD, this yoga asana strengthens the pelvic muscles and is very beneficial in treating ovarian cysts.
Breathing Exercises & Pranayama: Another spectrum of yoga exercises that is extremely beneficial in accentuating the healing process in case of PCOD patients is pranayama. Exercises like Kapalbhati, Bhramri pranayama and Nadishodhan pranayama refresh and rejuvenate the brain from everyday stress and help gain control over the mood swings along with treating ovarian cysts.
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