Chickpea scores foods using a published nutrient-profiling method (adapted from the 2023 update of the European front-of-pack nutrient-profiling algorithm, with documented changes for free sugars, whole grains and starchy staples, meat, fried potatoes and drinks). It does not test products and does not measure your body’s response. Healthy eating, as part of a healthy lifestyle, may help you live well with PCOS (PMOS), but no single food or diet has been shown to be best for PCOS. This is not medical advice and is not a diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making changes, especially if you are pregnant, take medication such as metformin, or have ever had an eating disorder. Food data: USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts (© Open Food Facts contributors, ODbL); it may contain errors, so check the package label.
What Chickpea is
Chickpea gives general information about food and nutrition, with tools to log what you eat, plan meals and keep your own notes. Healthy eating, as part of a healthy lifestyle, may help you live well with PCOS (PMOS). The 2023 International PCOS Guideline recommends healthy eating for everyone with PCOS, in line with general population guidance and tailored to your own preferences and goals (Teede et al., 2023). No single diet has been shown to be better than another for PCOS.
What Chickpea is not
- It is not a medical device, and it doesn’t provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- It can’t tell you whether you have PCOS (PMOS) or any other condition.
- It doesn’t recommend medicines, supplements or doses.
- It doesn’t replace your doctor, a registered dietitian or another qualified health professional. Check with them before you make medical decisions or change your diet.
Food scores
Food scores rate a food’s overall nutrition per 100 g, with extra weight on fiber, added sugar and whole grains. The word describes the food, not you, and one food doesn’t make a diet. Scores are the same for everyone: they don’t take account of your lab results, medicines or body, and they don’t measure how your body responds to a food. How they are worked out is set out in full on our how we score page.
Photo recognition and other estimates
When you log a meal from a photo or a description, an AI model identifies the foods and estimates the amounts. These are estimates and can be wrong; check and correct them before you save. Nutrient values for recipes and portions are estimates too.
Allergies and food data
Food data comes from public databases and can contain errors, and manufacturers change their recipes. Allergy filters in meal plans and recipes depend on that data and can’t be guaranteed. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, always read the package label and follow the advice of your doctor.
Weight
You don’t need to lose weight to use Chickpea: losing weight is one of three goals you can pick (lose, maintain or gain weight), and the guideline notes that there are benefits to a healthy lifestyle even in the absence of weight loss. Calorie targets are general estimates. Talk to your doctor before you start eating less, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication, or have ever had an eating disorder.
Cycle and symptom log
The cycle and symptom log is for your own notes and for sharing with your clinician. It makes no predictions, is not contraception or a fertility tool, and can’t diagnose anything. If something about your cycle or your symptoms worries you, talk to a doctor.
Reminders
You create your own reminders. Chickpea doesn’t suggest medicines, supplements or doses. Phone notifications can be delayed or missed, so don’t rely on them alone for medicines; follow your prescriber’s or pharmacist’s instructions.
If you have had an eating disorder
Tracking food and seeing food scores may not be right for everyone. If you have, or have had, an eating disorder, talk to your care team before using Chickpea. If you are struggling with eating, please contact your doctor or a specialist eating disorder service in your country.
Emergencies
Chickpea is not for emergencies. If you think you may have a medical emergency, including a severe allergic reaction, call 911 or your local emergency number straight away.
Questions
We can’t give individual medical advice, but we are happy to explain how the app works. Email support@joinchickpea.com.