There are many ways to help keep your vagina healthy: practicing safe sex, getting an annual health checkup, exercising regularly, and treating any infections as soon as possible.
But what you may not realize is that a healthy diet and certain food choices can benefit your vaginal health.
At Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, TX, our providers want to know what foods can help keep your vagina healthy. Read more about five foods you can eat to support your vagina.
Yogurt
Your vagina contains a large amount of “good” bacteria that help protect you from “bad” bacteria that might invade your body. You can increase the amount of beneficial bacteria by eating foods like yogurt.
The good bacteria in yogurt balances the acidity of vaginal fluids and is beneficial for the vagina. For the best benefits, choose yogurt brands that contain live, active cultures such as Lactobacillus.
Fermented food
Some fermented foods, like yogurt, contain beneficial good bacteria. These include certain types of sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, kimchi, kombucha, and kefir. Check food labels to see if the produce you’re buying contains live, active cultures.
High fiber foods
High-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains contain compounds called prebiotics. Prebiotics are the favorite foods of good gut bacteria and help keep your entire body healthy and balanced, including your vagina.
Aim for at least 28 grams of fiber per day or more. As a bonus, eating foods high in fiber can help maintain regular bowel movements and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Cranberry juice
You’ve probably heard that drinking cranberry juice can reduce your chances of getting a urinary tract infection, but it also prevents vaginal infections. Cranberry compounds help balance the pH level of the vagina, and its acidity helps fight infection-causing bacteria.
Just read the label and buy pure cranberry juice without added sugar.
Water
Well, it’s not food. But water can help the vagina because it hydrates the tissues and helps the body remove waste more effectively.
Take care of your vaginal health
Even if you make smart choices every day to support your vagina, you still have problems.
If you experience vaginal itching, burning, discharge, unexplained bleeding, pain, a fishy odor, or an increased urge to urinate, have your symptoms evaluated by our healthcare provider. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.