yeast infection

Proven Diet Techniques to Prevent and Treat Yeast Infections

What Role Does Food Play In My Yeast Infection?

You may be puzzled by the connection between yeast infections and food. Simply put, what goes into your body must come out. If you eat a lot of sugary foods, the excess sugar will exit through the urine. Yeast, a normally beneficent fungus, can explode when fed a lot of sugar. Although everyone has some yeast, it must be kept in check. Once the yeast fungus is allowed to grow unhindered, it will most likely cause a yeast infection.

What Foods Should I Avoid?

Any foods that "feed" the yeast should be cut out of your diet. This means you should not eat any sweets; avoid the sweeteners used in most prepackaged foods as well as fruit. All grains are off-limits if you are following a strict version of this idea, even the whole grains we usually consider healthy. White bread, pies, pastas, tortillas, and sourdough are only some of the bread items you may have to do without. Do not eat anything with yeast in it. Mushrooms carry yeast, so avoid them.

Do not indulge in foods based on dairy. Cheese, milk, and flavored yogurt should be on your "don’t eat" list. It is best to drink only water; you should definitely avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee, fruit juices (for the sugar content), and carbonated drinks. You should not eat sauerkraut because of its high amounts of vinegar, and all tomato sauces are best avoided. Do not eat anything that is high in vinegar. Avoid legumes, such as beans, and potatoes; these starchy foods turn into more sugar, which will only feed the yeast infection.

Is There Anything Left to Eat?

Now that the restrictions are out of the way, let’s look at some of the foods that can help your yeast infection go away for good. Most dark green vegetables are good for you and can be eaten as you fight the yeast infection. Green beans, spinach, arugula, and brussel sprouts can all be enjoyed safely.

Garlic actually fights back against the yeast infection. You can eat it raw, incorporate it into a recipe, or even use it as a suppository. If it is placed in the vagina, it can act as a natural yeast-killer. Seaweed also keeps the yeast population from expanding. While seaweed can be eaten (and enjoyed) raw, you may prefer to use it as an ingredient is a recipe, such as soup. Most raw nuts are allowed, although peanuts are not a good choice. You may want to drink herbal teas or freshly squeezed lemonade to add a bit of variety to your mealtime.

If you want to dress up a salad, you can toss it with olive oil or an apple cider vinegar that remains unpasteurized. You should definitely eat plenty of yogurt; it contains acidophilus, a good bacteria that will help kill off the excess yeast.

By eating the right foods, your yeast infection can be eradicated.

Tags: prevent yeast infection, treat yeast infection, yeast infection

What Really Causes a Yeast Infection?

Yeast: A Necessary Fungus

Yes, you read that correctly. Yeast is necessary for our bodies, and is always present in a small concentration. However, too much of this fungus will lead to an infection. It is important to understand what causes a yeast infection in order to avoid this painful condition in the future.

Shut Down Yeast’s Habitat

Yeast lives in warm, damp areas of the body. If you want to really slice your chances of getting a yeast infection, you should make sure you always wear clean, dry underwear. Tight panties made of synthetic materials are the absolute worst choice if you want to avoid yeast infections. Instead, wear cotton; it breathes much better. You should wear clean panties each day.

Women who do not control their diabetes well enough are more likely to get this condition. This is directly related to the sugar in the urine. Even if you do not have diabetes, it is a good idea to cut back on your sugar intake.

Scented toilet paper, tampons, and feminine deodorant sprays can also cause yeast infections. After exercising or swimming, it is a good idea to change out of the wet or sweaty clothing.

Don’t Kill the Yeast-Fighters

This is the tricky part. If you take antibiotics for another kind of infection, you will kill not only the offending bacteria, but the bacteria that would ordinarily get rid of much of the yeast. If you use some types of soap, such as the antibacterial kind, you may be killing these “good” germs in your quest to deodorize. Do not use soap on your vaginal area; the dyes and perfumes can really mess up your pH balance and harm the sensitive tissues. Clothing detergents can cause the same kind of problem, so choose your detergent with care. Do not use douches, as they get rid of the good bacteria. Every time you use antibiotics or antibacterial deodorants, you are clearing the way for yeast to take over and cause an infection.

Other Causes

HIV can also allow yeast infections to occur because it weakens the immune system. If a woman’s vagina is injured, a yeast infection may follow. Taking steroids can also heighten your risk of getting this irritating condition.

A woman who has taken chemotherapy can also get a yeast infection. Immunosuppressive drugs are sometimes useful, but they will contribute to your chances of getting a yeast infection. Drugs that belong to the cortisone family will also put you at a greater risk of getting a yeast infection.

Women who are pregnant or on their period are also more likely to get a yeast infection than they are at other times. Whether you wear pads or tampons during your period, you should change them frequently. Stress and sickness can also have a marked impact on your chances of getting this infection.

While some of the factors that can cause a yeast infection cannot be prevented, many of them can be eradicated or reduced.

Tags: causes of yeast infection, yeast infection