What Foods Have Probiotics In Them
There are many different foods that contain probiotics. Some of the best sources include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso soup, and tempeh. Probiotic-rich foods can help replenish the good bacteria in the body and promote a healthy balance.
When it comes to probiotics and vaginal health, yogurt is one of the best sources. Yogurt contains live and active cultures that can help replenish the good bacteria in the body. Make sure to choose a yogurt that is plain and unsweetened for the most benefits.
Sauerkraut is another excellent source of probiotics. This fermented cabbage dish is rich in live and active cultures that can help promote a healthy balance in the body.
Kimchi is a Korean dish made from fermented cabbage. It is rich in probiotics and other nutrients that can help improve vaginal health.
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Should You Use Probiotics For Your Vagina
You know , but does your vagina need one too? You might think so, based on probiotic marketing these days. Probiotics are in everything from drinks to pills and powders, and in many cases, are being promoted as a means of improving your vaginal health.
Women seem to be listening, says Dr. Caroline Mitchell, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School. Vaginal probiotic supplements are hugely popular. This includes both probiotic pills and suppository capsules that are inserted into the vagina using an applicator.
But evidence of effectiveness is scant. There is almost no evidence that these have benefit for vaginal health. The studies are mostly poorly done and dont adhere to rigorous reporting standards, even if they are randomized trials, says Dr. Mitchell. But that hasnt stopped companies from promoting products for that purpose.
However, while todays vaginal probiotic products should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism, that may change as scientific knowledge builds. Meanwhile, heres whats known and unknown about probiotics and your vaginal health.
The Special Yeast Thats Probiotic And Good For Your Gut Health
S. boulardii is a yeast that can act like a probiotic bacteria, meaning it can actually improve your digestive health. Learn more right here about how this yeast can help you relieve inflammation and improve your gut and digestive health.
6 minute read
Usually, we think yeast and either imagine baking bread or some sort of infection, but we usually dont think probiotics. Of course, it should come as no surprise that probiotics are an important part of your health. All you have to do is walk past the yogurt section and the word is on every label.
Probiotics are the good bacteria, just as the ones living in your gut, and they help to defend against the bad microorganisms. There also happens to be a type of yeast that is particularly beneficial in much the same way, and one you should get to know.
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Other Options For Yeast Infection Treatment
Especially if its your first time experiencing symptoms, speak to a gynecologist or healthcare provider to determine whether you have a yeast infection before you try any type of treatment. Many of the symptoms of a yeast infection can also occur with other types of vaginitis, and you want to be sure you use the best treatment for your condition.
Effective treatments for a yeast infection include:
- Prescription antifungal medication: These creams, ointments, pills, and suppositories come in one-day, three-day, and seven-day strengths. Note that pregnant women should not take single doses of oral medication such as fluconazole .
- OTC treatments: Over-the-counter vaginal creams and suppositories, such as miconazole , also come in one-day, three-day, and seven-day strengths. These products often have the same ingredients as prescription medications but in less concentrated amounts.
What Happens If A Yeast Infection Is Left Untreated
Start treating a yeast infection as quickly as possible. The wait and see approach will likely just make your yeast infection worse, with redness, itching, and inflammation all over the genital region. Open sores and cracked skin could occur, which could turn into a skin infection. Then, when you do treat it, the infection could take much longer than if you had initially treated it. Untreated yeast infections can also pass between sexual partners, cause complications in pregnant women, and could pass to the baby during childbirth.
Women who get yeast infections on a regular basis may benefit from keeping treatment at home, so it is ready to use when needed.
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Tips To Prevent And Manage Candida
Given the numerous potential contributing factors in Candidiasis, there are plenty of things you can do right now to minimize your risk of yeast overgrowth.
Consider switching to a low glycemic protein sources such as beans and lentils. These foods are high in fibre, which not only acts as a prebiotic to feed beneficial bacteria, it also helps keep your blood glucose in check to help thwart yeast infections.
Its also important to keep on top of hygiene, especially if you use certain medical devices. Catheters, pacemakers, prosthetic joints and limbs, medical instruments and equipment, and even your dentures are some of Candidas favorite haunts where the yeast likes to form biofilms.7 Ironically, poor hygiene in hospitals and clinics can expose us to virulent Candida when were at our most vulnerable.8 Candida may also cause biofilms on sex toys, so be sure to clean these properly after each use and avoid sharing them between partners.
Now you have a general idea of some of the main causes of Candidiasis, and some tips to prevent and manage yeast infections, what about treatment, and what about probiotics?
What Are The Benefits Of Probiotic Yogurt For Yeast Infections
What benefits can you get from using the best probiotic yogurt brands? If you are wondering what the fuss is all about eating yogurt for your yeast infection, here are a few known benefits that are associated with it.
It reduces obesity One benefit to eating the best probiotic yogurt brands is that they can help you with your obesity issues. Studies have shown that those who are prone to obesity have different gut environment compared to others which only shows that gut flora plays a role in a persons weight.
It improves womens health The digestive tract is not the only one that is benefited from eating probiotic yogurt as a womans overall health can be improved too. The vagina requires both the bad and good bacteria to keep it healthy, but once the scales have tipped in favor of bad bacteria, yeast infections are highly likely to occur. Taking probiotic yogurt has found to reduce a womans risk of yeast infection significantly.
It boosts urinary health Another benefit to taking the best probiotic yogurt brands is that they can treat urinary tract infections. Eating yogurt has also been found to prevent UTI from occurring which is a huge relief for both men and women.
It enhances digestion Good digestion plays a huge role in our overall health from keeping infections at bay to making our body absorb more nutrients compared to before. Eating probiotic yogurt has been found to enhance digestion significantly.
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Dont Use Harsh Products:
The use of harsh deodorants, perfumes, soaps etc can damage the human friendly bacteria and their population in the body. For example, vagina contains oils that fight against formation of yeast but the use of sanitary napkins for a long time, sprays, perfumes etc can strip the naturally occurring protective oil from vagina resulting in yeast infections. The use of hygienic products especially during menstruation is a key for females to keep them protected from vaginal infections.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Probiotics On Vaginal Health
Vaginas contain over 50 different microbes, which are organisms of microscopic size. Most of them are lactobacilli that keep the body healthy and infection-free. Any of these factors can cause an imbalance in the vagina:
Unprotected penetrative intercourse
Scented products
Patients can use probiotics to present yeast formation. This, however, comes with some risks.
The most pressing concern with probiotic use is the lack of FDA regulation on dietary supplements sold in the market. For this reason, manufacturers can make claims that are not true.
Additionally, low-quality probiotic products may contain unlisted ingredients and unsafe substances. As a result, they may cause infections and other complications. Therefore, people with comorbidities should be extra careful when dealing with these organisms.
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How Do I Take Probiotics
You can take probiotics in supplement form or by eating fermented foods and yogurts that contain live and active cultures. If you choose to take a supplement, be sure to look for one that contains at least 50 million CFUs and is specifically designed for vaginal health.
Its also important to take probiotics on a regular basis not just when youre experiencing vaginal issues. This will help prevent future problems from occurring.
When it comes to choosing a probiotic supplement, there are many factors to consider. Here are a few of the most important:
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Best Probiotic To Prevent Yeast Infections
Using probiotics to prevent yeast infection was suggested by the medical literature to be very useful. A common best practice done in most studies is using a mixture of the Lactobacillus probiotic strains , which are considered the best probiotic to prevent yeast infections. The Lactobacillus probiotic complex we use in our protocol for yeast infection prevention is FloraTrex and it has shown to be very safe and effective.
In addition to using probiotics to prevent yeast infection, it is important to be aware of common causes and risk factors of yeast infection. The effectiveness of any protocol for preventing yeast infection may be different from one person to another, as there are many different yeast infection causes and risk factors to consider. Taking probiotics for yeast infection or any yeast infection pill will not always prevent the yeast infection. Using probiotics to prevent yeast infection however, can reduce the chances of developing a yeast infection .
To see a list of common yeast infection causes and risk factors, see candida overgrowth causes.
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A Solution Springs From Frustration
But sometimes women dont respond to the standard treatments and experience recurrent problems that leave them searching for solutions. Dr. Mitchell says that some women shes encountered are trying not only probiotic supplements, but also alternative treatments theyve found on the Internet. These include putting yogurt-soaked tampons, tea tree oil, and even garlic cloves into their vaginas in an effort to introduce beneficial bacteria. These solutions, she says, are not only ineffective but highly inadvisable.
Its true that a compound in garlic, allicin, has been shown to kill yeast in a laboratory. But you cannot put enough cloves of garlic in your vagina or take enough oral garlic capsules to achieve the same effect, says Dr. Mitchell. Tea tree oil also has no demonstrated benefit and can cause irritation. Yogurt-infused tampons dont work either. Many probiotic supplements and most yogurts do contain Lactobacillus bacteria, but its generally not the same type of Lactobacillus found in your vagina. L. crispatus and L. iners are the most common species found in the vagina. Most probiotics and yogurt contain other species, such as L. rhamnosus or L. acidophilus, which are more common in the gut.
Probiotics And Antibiotics: An Overview
- Antibiotics deplete the populations of friendly bacteria in the gut and may cause digestive issues so its important to select probiotics to take with antibiotics, dont wait until the course has finished.
- If taking Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 then take them with breakfast. These strains can be taken at the SAME time as your antibiotic if this is also at breakfast-time.
- If taking a different probiotic supplement, wait at least 2 hours after your antibiotics before taking probiotics.
- It is important to always follow the advice from your doctor, and always take and finish a course of antibiotics as prescribed. Taking probiotics alongside antibiotics may reduce digestive issues and enable you to finish a course, reducing the chances of antibiotic resistance.
- If you have already finished a course of antibiotics before being recommended a friendly bacteria supplement, better late than never by all means take a probiotic now! For next time, you know you can take them during as well as after.
- It simply isnât a question of antibiotics OR probiotics â itâs a question of antibiotics AND probiotics.
You may also wish to read our FAQ, At what time should I take probiotics?
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What Are Vaginal Probiotics
Vaginal probiotics are friendly live microorganisms that can be introduced to your body to boost your vaginal health. These work by providing strains of good bacteria that improve your vaginas microbiota composition. The most commonly-touted beneficial type of probiotic bacteria are Lactobacillus.
Many probiotics products have been developed in recent years, marketed specifically for vaginal health. These contain a mixture of these beneficial lactobacilli bacteria strains. Most commonly, vaginal probiotics are available daily oral supplements, but some are applied to the vagina.
When it comes to their role in human health, the use of probiotics to augment our bodies bacterial populations is gradually achieving scientific acceptance. Most often, when women seek out vaginal probiotics, they are doing so to treat or prevent the two most common urogenital health problems bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
Whilst you should always consult your doctor if youre concerned about vaginal health, whats the current evidence for the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing, alleviating or treating these common vaginal issues?
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How To Try Probiotics
Probiotics come in several forms that you can use in different ways. You can find them in the form of capsules or suppositories, which you insert into your vagina. When choosing a capsule or suppository, look for one that includes a list of the bacteria it contains. Most products will list them based on how many are in each dose. Try to find one that lists Lactobacillus near the top, such as these capsules or this suppository, both available on Amazon.
For a more cost-effective option, you can also use yogurt. Just make sure you choose one with a label that mentions live cultures and Lactobacillus. Avoid yogurts with added sugar or flavoring. Yeast feeds on sugars, so plain yogurt is best for a yeast infection.
To use the yogurt, remove a cotton tampon from its applicator and refill the applicator with yogurt. Lay down while inserting the applicator and releasing all of the yogurt into your vagina. Wait a few minutes before standing up to give it time to settle in.
As with other creams for yeast infections, the yogurt will eventually start leaking out of your vagina. You may want to consider apply it right before bed or when you wont be standing for long periods of time. If you need to apply it during the day or before being active, you may want to use a pantyliner or a pad to protect your clothing and provide extra comfort.
You can also apply yogurt to your vulva, which is the outer part of your vagina, to relieve itching and burning.
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The Best Probiotic For Candida
If you apply these five tests to probiotic supplements on the market today, youll find very few that pass. Thats why we worked with Balance ONE to design a probiotic supplement that fulfills all of these criteria.
Our recommended probiotic for Candida is the Balance ONE Probiotic. It uses BIO-tract technology, contains 15 billion CFUs of bacteria, has 12 probiotic strains, and is made in the USA. Its the only probiotic that we recommend for Candida overgrowth.
Patients And Methods Of Delivery And Recovery Of The Lactobacilli
Each morning and last thing at night for 14 days, ten women, asymptomatic for infection but with a recent history of urogenital infection, swallowed 3 ml probiotic suspension. The patients provided urine and vagina swabs pre-treatment and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after commencement of the therapy. The swabs were suspended in 1 ml saline and cultured on MRS agar. Morphotypes of lactobacilli, particularly those suspected of being strains L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 were further subcultured, Gram-stained and ribotyped. The ribotyping consisted of restriction of the genome with endonucleases, separation of the DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis and hybridization with rRNA from E. coli as described in full previously . The fingerprints characteristic of L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 were identified. Controls consisted of a range of ATCC type strains of Lactobacillus, markers and samples without lactobacilli. Each patient was asked to record any side effects such as bladder or vaginal irritation, discharge, or intestinal upset, and to inform us of any use of antimicrobial agents for infections occurring during the study.
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Yogurt Probiotics And Good Bacteria For Yeast Infection
The vagina is home to numerous beneficial microbes, which keep pathogenic microbes, including Candida, in check.
The yeasts grow out of control when something such as antibiotics, hormones, pregnancy, or health issues, like diabetes and HIV or AIDS disrupts that delicate balance.
Because of this fact, one of the most common natural remedies for yeast infections has long involved restoring the vaginas population of friendly bacteria, especially Lactobacillus acidophilus, by using yogurt or probiotics.
Overall, despite a host of research on the topic, the evidence for consuming healthy bacteria to treat or prevent yeast infections is inconsistent, at best.
An early report in 1992 found that daily ingestion of yogurt containing L. acidophilus decreases candidal colonization and infection. Another study published in 2010 found that probiotics taken after conventional treatment of vaginal yeast infections may lead to somewhat fewer recurrences of the infection.
But numerous reviews have found that most clinical trials on the subject had methodological issues, making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions.
For instance, a review published in the Journal of Chemotherapy found that Lactobacillus strains can help treat bacterial vaginosis, but the bacteria have no clear benefit for yeast infections.
Either way, regular ingestion of beneficial bacteria poses very little harm, so you can try the remedies without worry .
