How Are the Foods You're Eating Affecting Your Vagina?

Before you go on some crazy diet or start splurging every night, remember that you’re not eating for one. No, you may not be pregnant, but you have a special little lady on board that may not be loving all your choices in food: your vagina.

Yeast Infection Prevention

Your lady-bits works best when there’s proper pH balance (which is slightly acidic). Investing in probiotics can supercharge your vagina to help fight off yeast infections. Yogurt is the most well known dietary probiotic around, but if you’re not into yogurt, there are some different alternatives. Miso, sauerkraut and kimchi all have probiotic properties that can help balance your pH levels. If you’re on an antibiotic then you should seriously be stepping up your probiotic game, or you’ll put yourself at a higher risk for yeast infections.

And you may want to cut down on the sugar. Studies have proven that high-sugar diets, especially in women with diabetes, can increase your risk for getting a yeast infection.

Dryness Correction

If you experience chronic vaginal dryness, or you’ve recently started a new birth control and have been experiencing dryness, don’t run to your gyno! Like your mouth, your vaginal walls are coated in a mucus membrane. In order to keep it lubricated, the fastest solution is to drink more water! If upping your water intake doesn’t help too much, try eating dark, leafy greens like kale or spinach. The vitamins in these greens are known for supporting vaginal health and lubrication.

Smell Inspection

We’ve all been there: You’ve been walking around for a while and you think you can smell yourself. Or better yet, your significant other points it out. Yikes! Eating foods high in alkaline, like meat or fish, can cause your hoo-ha to start smelling within two hours of consumption!

And if you’ve heard that pineapple is the crown jewel of helping your little partner-in-crime smell better, then take that information with a grain of salt. Pineapple has not been proven to affect the smell of your vagina. The sweet fruit only has one component that’s proven to dilute the smell, and that’s water. Water is pretty much superman when it comes to making your vagina happy.

Foods to Limit

Chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners are the enemy. They can not only make your vagina smell but also increase your risk of getting a UTI. Eat these foods in moderation.

What other foods have you found impact your vaginal health? Let us know!

Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.