Many women fail to treat the cause of vaginal thrush. They only attempt to mask the symptoms. Vaginal thrush is also known as a yeast infection. It can be an embarrassing, annoying, and even painful condition. In fact, 75% of women get yeast infections during their lives. A lucky few may even get saddled with chronic vaginal thrush with no hope of relief. Women very frequently view yeast infections as topical, forgetting that the actual cause is imbalance within the vagina. Creams, hygiene products, and antibiotics cannot provide long-term relief. Some “treatments” actually worsen the infection.
My name is Megan Paul and I was not orignally an expert on vaginal health. Unfortunately I had to become one because of my chronic problems with Candida. Thankfully, that was a painful lesson that I only had to learn once. Now I am passionate about helping other women avoid the same pitfalls I suffered with during my journey. Before you start visiting “experts,” popping pills, or spreading creams on your hoo-hoo, try treating the root cause of vaginal thrush, rather than simply masking the symptoms.
The yeast known as Candida albicans is a fungus that squats in our mouths, vagina, and intestines. You can never completely eliminate it from your body, but you can keep it under control. Pregnancy, diabetes, chronic antibiotic usage, and immune suppression increase the likelihood that vaginal thrush will flare up. A few common causes are lack of vaginal hygiene, blood sugar abnormalities, hormonal changes, and any factor that might suppress immune function.
Properly cleansing your vagina is one important line of defense. Keep your vagina clean and dry to avoid humidity and moisture that can lead to problems. Stay away from harsh soaps, in favor of warm water. Remember that feminine products – such as sprays, powders, and perfumes – do not clean your vagina; they merely cover up the problem. Likewise, cleansing by means of feminine douche does not provide lasting relief. In fact, it is more likely to further disrupt vaginal balance by flushing out “friendly bacteria” that protect you. As an alternative, run a warm bath with 20 drops of pure tea tree oil and 8 ounces of apple cider vinegar. These natural disinfectants allow you to soak and cleanse for 20 minutes at a time.
Who would have thought that your diet could affect your vagina? The food you choose to eat does impact every part of your body, including the vagina. The reason that diabetics commonly get yeast infections is because blood sugar imbalance is advantageous for fungal growth. Candida albicans grows like wild fire in the presence of sugars. In order to avoid this, you must limit your intake of high-glycemic carbs like refined white breads, white rice, and too much table sugar. Brown rice, quinoa, and other whole grains stabilize blood sugar to help prevent yeast infection. You can also add stevia extract in place of sugar in your coffee and tea. Eat fermented foods that provide “friendly bacteria” to help protect your body’s balance. Examples are yogurt, miso, kefir, fermented cheese, and sauerkraut.
Yeast infections occur frequently; and they can be embarrassing, annoying, and painful. Start being proactive right now and change your nutrition and hygiene routines. You do not want to wait until your car breaks down to begin a regimen of scheduled maintenance. A few basic health tips can do wonders for avoiding vaginal thrush permanently.
Learn more about vaginal thrush. Stop by Megan Paul’s site where you can find out all about yeast infection products and what they can do for you.