PCOS: Everyday Herbs, Spices, and Simple Meal Planning

Herbs and spices have magic powers to manage PCOS hormone imbalances and lose extra weight

Cooking with herbs and spices is one way to add flavor and variety to your everyday meals. Here are three familiar options:

• Cinnamon. It's known to be beneficial in managing blood sugar levels, enhancing fertility and insulin sensitivity, and regulating menstruation.
  
  Add it in your tea or coffee. Sprinkle on pancakes and muffins. Mix it in your morning oatmeal or chia pudding.
  
  
• Basil. It is loaded with anti-androgenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and controls androgens leading to excessive facial hair growth and acne, and lower blood sugar levels.
  
  Use basil to make pesto, prepare basil leaf tea, add basil to your salads and fruit cups for added sweetness. Basil is common in Thai cuisine, so if you're eating out, opt for Thais basil chicken and veggies!
  
  
• Turmeric. It is anti-inflammatory in nature and contains a compound called curcumin that can be helpful in tackling insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, and increasing HDL or good cholesterol levels.
  
  Our all-time favorite spice! You can make turmeric lattes, add it to pancakes, sprinkle it on your rice, and even add it to homemade dressings.

Meal planning in just 3 steps

Tired of hearing about meal planning? The truth is, it works. Planning your meals is much easier than you think, and it saves you time and energy (thinking about what to eat) and money (not buying things you don't need) every single week. Just remember: when you plan, you make progress.

1. Decide on your meals for the week. It's key to have go-to meals and family favorites. These are the easiest meals to make that will satisfy everyone.
2. Decide what you'll make each night. This helps you understand what you can prep ahead of time or what can be used as leftovers for the next day's lunch. 
3. Make a grocery list and shop. It might seem kind of old school, but grocery lists keep you on track in the grocery store, reducing overspending, grabbing foods you don't need, and forgetting the ones you do!