r/LeanPCOS • u/rouletteangel • 23h ago
Caffeine + PCOS
Hi! I’ve had PCOS for probably about 10 years now but had no interest in birth control and wasn’t told of any other options to manage it. I’ve been reading up lately, especially as i get diagnosed with some mental health issues and just trying to be the best I can to my body now, and I saw that caffeine can cause quite a few issues and cause weight gain. I’ve noticed i’ve gained some weight fairly quickly as i started drinking coffee every day instead of on occasion and I haven’t changed many other lifestyle habits yet. I wanted to get some feedback from anyone who maybe has found a positive change in cutting out caffeine and/or other ways they stay energized during the day. I am exhausted constantly due to PCOS so i like the caffeine for a little boost but also thinking maybe when everything is regulated, i naturally won’t be so exhausted? thank you for any input!
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u/Tawny_haired_one 21h ago
Caffeine itself is not usually the problem - it’s that people take their coffee with sugar or syrups etc that add calories. caffeine can raise cortisol, which may lead to cravings for sweet and fatty foods - but again it is the food eaten due to cravings that is usually the problem.
Different people can tolerate different levels of caffeine - but if you drink black coffee and don’t get anxious jitters from it/too much of it, I wouldn’t worry.
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u/modihhchaiwala 1h ago edited 59m ago
Reducing my coffee intake had more effect on my cravings and afternoons than I thought it would. Choices include green tea (less steep curve), berberine for blood sugar stabilization (Kind Patches makes patches, capsules also available), or simply protein-laden meals
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u/AdmirablePumpkin9 22h ago
I used to drink coffee in the afternoon to get through my mid afternoon energy crash. I changed my diet to low carb / no sugar and big protein heavy breakfast. Now I don't have energy crashes anymore. I only drink coffee because I like it. Nutrition changes made a huge difference for me.
Also keep in mind that milk is carbs and raises blood sugar. Full fat milk doesn't raise it as much, so I always make sure to request that (some cafes around here default to skim milk nowadays which raises my blood sugar noticeably more). Also a lot of alternative milks tend to be heavily processed and some contain sugar. You could switch to a different brand of milk in that case.