How to keep vagina healthy 5 great tips 8 foods to keep vagina healthy
8 Foods for Your Bitches: Your Vagina’s Favorite Foods
Your diet does more than affect your waistline. It also affects the overall health of your vagina and can contribute to infections, bad breath, etc.
Balancing Fitness Below the Belt
unbalanced pH. Sounds like chemistry class, doesn’t it? Add the word vagina, and then it’s enough to make us swoon. Literally — because when you feel different down there, such as with a new odor or more discharge than usual, it could be a sign that your vaginal pH is off.
A balanced vaginal pH needs to stay between 3.8 and 4.2. The moment it’s out of balance for too long, bacteria have a chance to thrive and cause discomfort – or even an infection.
What is the reason for the imbalance? Anything with a high pH above 4.5, such as soap or scented soaps, can disrupt the natural acidity in your vagina. Even tight-fitting clothing that doesn’t allow air to circulate can cause pH changes below the belt by trapping sweat and moisture against your skin.
However, your vagina is pretty good at protecting and cleaning itself. Proper vaginal care, such as good hygiene, safe sex, and regular gynecological visits, all play a role in keeping your pH in check. Water intake and dietary modification may also help by incorporating lactobacilli supplements — a type of probiotic — into your routine.
1. Cranberry juice helps in dealing with UTI
We’ve all heard or taken the popular advice: Drink cranberry juice to treat UTIs. But is there any evidence for this? Cranberry juice (100% cranberry juice – not the sweet stuff) or concentrated cranberry extract capsules are packed with antioxidants and acidic compounds, which are powerful infection-fighters that can help keep bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.
Studies suggest that 100 percent cranberry products may be particularly beneficial in preventing UTIs in women with frequent or recent UTI issues. Just make sure you stay away from the sugar-laden cranberry juice varieties, which can actually make things worse down there.
2. Eat more sweet potatoes for bacterial infection
These potatoes have some sweet benefits for the health of your vagina, too. Rich in beta carotene and vitamin A, sweet potatoes help keep your mucus membranes healthy. This means they may help prevent bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common vaginal infection. Vitamin A deficiency, along with deficiencies in vitamins C, D, E, calcium, folate and beta-carotene, is associated with an increased risk of BV. then eat!
Sweet potatoes are also high in fiber, which may help stabilize insulin levels in people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Insulin resistance is common with PCOS – so by controlling blood sugar over the course of several months, the fiber in sweet potatoes may boost fertility and help ease symptoms.
3. Probiotics also bring down the good bacteria
Probiotic-rich foods, including yogurt that contains certain Lactobacillus strains, are good for more health than just your gut. It may also help improve your recovery from BV and reduce overall symptoms. This bacteria helps keep your vaginal pH level under control, which helps prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Research shows that probiotics may help reduce the symptoms of BV, such as discharge and odor. They may also help prevent repeat BV infections.
So, go ahead and enjoy that cup of curd or kefir. Just be sure to choose brands that have live, active cultures. These are the beneficial bacteria you want in your gut – and in your vagina.
4. Omega-3 for better circulation and sex drive
Omega-3 fatty acids help with circulation and blood flow, which is good news for your sex drive. These essential fatty acids were shown to “improve sexual function in pregnant women by preventing increased pregnancy anxiety” – although more research is needed. Are menstrual cramps getting you down? Studies also suggest that fish oil may reduce severe dysmenorrhea without the adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
5. Fruits provide important reproductive nutrients.
Many fruits are also high in antioxidants, which are great for improving blood flow, keeping your cells healthy, and reducing oxidative stress—which play a role in fertility.
Fruits high in antioxidants include:
1. Pomegranate
2. Blueberry
3. Raspberry
4. Strawberry
5. Apple
6. Goji Berries