The 7 Worst Foods For Vaginal Health
- Sweet stuff. Those delicious desserts aren’t doing you or your vaginal health any favors.
- Onions. It isn’t just your breath that smells after eating onions.
- Asparagus.
- Anything fried.
- Coffee.
- Refined carbs.
- Cheese.
What foods affect BV?
Researchers suggest that high fat intake, particularly saturated fat may increase vaginal pH, thereby increasing the risk of bacterial vaginosis. As you can see in the associated video Bacterial Vaginosis and Diet, most saturated fat in the American diet comes from dairy, desserts, and chicken.
What foods can throw off your pH balance?
Foods That Throw Off Your pH
- Foods High in Sugar. As we mentioned before, foods higher in sugar can throw off your pH level tremendously.
- Alcohol. There is a reason those who are recovering from alcoholism crave sugary foods – it processes the same in the body.
- Processed Foods.
- Any Meat or Dairy with Additive Hormones.
What foods help fight BV?
Probiotic-rich food, including yogurt that contains certain Lactobacillus strains, is good for more than just your gut. It can also help improve your recovery from BV and reduce overall symptoms. This bacterium helps keep your vaginal pH levels in check, helping to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
What causes bacterial vaginosis to flare up?
BV is a result of an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in a vagina. Douching, not using condoms, and having new or multiple sex partners can upset the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV. We also do not know how sex causes BV.
How do you get rid of chronic BV?
However, taking the following steps may help reduce your risk of recurring BV infections.
- Pay attention to vaginal hygiene.
- Wear breathable underwear.
- Ask about boric acid suppositories.
- Use condoms.
- Maintain a healthy vaginal pH.
- Take a probiotic.
- Find healthy ways to destress.
What should I eat if I have a bacterial infection?
Consuming foods high in vitamin C such as grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, sweet red pepper, broccoli, strawberries, kale, and kiwifruit are thought to increase white blood cell production, which is key to fighting infection.
Does cranberry juice help with BV?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that cranberry juice may help remedy symptoms. Complete prevention of BV is not possible, however, there are a number of factors to be considered when attempting to reduce the risk of BV.
Does sugar worsen BV?
Sugar is the biggest culprit in both BV and thrush as it feeds the bad bacteria and yeasts that cause these conditions. Avoid refined sugar, and limit your intake of high glycaemic index fruits such as bananas and citrus fruits.
Can your diet cause BV?
Yasmin et al. proved that increased dietary fat intake (39% of energy from fat), especially total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat, can increase vaginal pH, thus increasing the risk of bacterial vaginosis. In addition, dietary fat may be a factor that inhibits the immune functions of the intestinal mucosa.
What fruits help BV?
Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons
Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons are packed with the goodness of vitamin C that is effective against recurring bacterial infections and abnormal vaginal discharge.
How can I restore my pH balance naturally?
However, there are several natural remedies that can help you maintain a healthy pH balance in your body, including making changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Natural remedies
- Follow a well-rounded diet.
- Stay hydrated.
- Consider using probiotics.
- Avoid harsh soaps and skincare products.
Why wont my BV go away?
Around a third of women who take antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV) find that the problem recurs within the next two to three months. Some strains of BV organisms may have resistance to some antibiotics. You should return to your healthcare provider and describe the problems you are having.
Which probiotic is best for BV?
The best probiotics for BV are products that include both Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 strains. These can be found in both the Fem-Dophilus from Jarrow Formulas and RepHresh Pro B probiotic supplements.
What happens if you have BV for too long?
Most often, BV does not cause other health problems. However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.
Does stress cause BV?
Any change in your immune health—like stress—can impact your vaginal pH level, making a yeast infection and/or bacterial vaginosis more common.
How long does bacterial vaginosis last?
While the infection may go away on its own, most doctors use antibiotics to treat it. You may have been prescribed pills or vaginal cream. With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days.
Why do I keep having bacterial infections?
Some repeat infections, like pneumonia and bladder infections, may happen because of a genetic predisposition. That’s an inherited tendency to get more infections than most people do. Structural issues. Repeat infections can also happen as a result of how your body is put together.
What not to eat if you have a bacterial infection?
Which foods should I avoid?
- Milk and milk products, yogurt, and cheese that are raw or have not been pasteurized.
- Cheese from a deli counter and cheese that contains chili peppers or uncooked vegetables.
- Cheeses with molds, such as blue, Stilton, gorgonzola, and Roquefort cheese.
Does sugar feed bacteria infection?
“Too much sugar in your system allows the bacteria or viruses to propagate much more because your initial innate system doesn’t work as well. That’s why diabetics, for example, have more infections,” Dr. Michael Roizen, MD and COO of the Cleveland Clinic told CNET.
What yogurt is good for BV?
Eat plain, probiotic yogurt daily. One study showed that after consuming 150mL yogurt containing L. acidophilus daily for two months, there was a 60% reduction in BV episodes.