A few weeks ago, Bollywood diva Sonam Kapoor Ahuja took to her Instagram account and shared something personal. She revealed that she has been suffering from PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) since the age of 14 or 15. She talked about her ordeal with this hormonal problem in her first episode of ‘Story Time With Sonam.’ PCOS is a very common condition that a lot of women live with. Sonam, 35, who has been very vocal about her struggle with weight gain has shared tips on what lifestyle changes and routines worked for her in managing PCOS. But before getting on to the Sonam Kapoor PCOS story, let’s have a look at what exactly is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels and creates metabolic problems. This may affect their overall health and appearance as well. Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes them to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant.
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Sonam Kapoor PCOS Story
“I’ve been struggling with PCOS for quite some time now. It has been a bane of my existence. I have gone to several doctors, naturopaths, dietitians, nutritionists etc. to help myself. But right now I am in a good place. So, I thought of sharing my learnings with you,” revealed Sonam. In her candid video, she further expressed, “It’s also an extremely confusing condition since everyone’s case, symptoms and struggles are different. I’ve finally figured out what helps me after years of trying several diets, workouts and routines, and I want to share my tips for managing PCOS with you.”
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Tip 1- Exercise Regularly
Sonam gave a lot of importance to exercise and walking. She said, “Walking is something that has become an afterthought, something that we don’t do anymore. Our lifestyles have become sedentary and walking is one of the natural things that one can do. This is something that I’ve learnt the hard way and I walk now at least 10,000 steps a day.”
Tip 2- Practice Yoga
Another form of exercise that Sonam suggested was Yoga as it makes one mobile and strong. One can also improve their cardiovascular ability through Suryanamaskar, Hatha Yoga etc. Sonam called it- ‘the best and all-round exercise’ that she would suggest. “Yoga has another element to it which is meditation and breathing exercise,” she said while referring to stress which triggers PCOS. “Whether it is environmental stress, physical stress or any kind of stress – stress is bad and Yoga, meditation and breathing have actually helped me combat that,” shared Sonam. She suggested using an app for guidance if one cannot find a Yoga teacher.
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Tip 3- Avoid sugar
Sonam blamed sugar for making you feel good and then you come crashing down. The actress said that she has given up sugar completely. She warned, “refined sugar is bad, it’s poison, it’s the worst thing you can put into your system.” She further added, “I cannot tell you how my life has changed since I’ve given it up and I’m not only talking about refined sugar. I’m talking about natural sugars as well – honey, maple syrup, gur (jaggery) etc. Just stop having it.”
She suggested that low sugar fruits like oranges and apples are the best alternatives to curb your cravings for sugar. Once an addict to sugary drinks, chocolates, sweets and desserts, Sonam revealed that now she finds them too bad and did not think she would ever eat this sugary stuff again.
However, she asserted that PCOS manifests in different ways. So, fans should run these 3 tips through their respective doctors before self-medicating or self-prescribing.
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Sonam Kapoor’s PCOS Diet
Sonam got an overwhelming response from her fans to her PCOS video. Their words of encouragement made her share Chapter 2 of this series: My PCOS Diet.
She shared another video where she talked about a breakfast that she swears by.“Hi guys, so we are talking about the PCOS diet. I am off dairy and refined sugar and I am having coconut yoghurt and berries and paleo granola (which is basically with no grains), a breakfast I have a lot,” said Sonam.
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On her social media profile, she wrote- “Usually my food intake consists of everything natural, fresh and local. Wherever I am, I make sure I indulge in the produce that is locally and freshly available. A handful of berries with coconut yoghurt is my go-to option for breakfast. This coupled with a cup of either spearmint or green tea and a bowl of greens keeps me energised on long days! Like I mentioned, your PCOS diet needs to be crafted by a professional dietician who knows about your struggles and pains. What’s on your plate, these days? Tell me if you’re struggling with PCOS, what do you indulge in?”
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There was a point in her student days when the actress weighed close to 80 kilos. But it was her mother, Sunita who pushed and made her change her lifestyle for good. She kept Sonam off the stuff she was so fond of as a teenager- chocolates, ice creams, fried foods and sweets and thus helped get rid of her excess weight.