How to Keep Your Vagina Healthy

Vaginal health rarely gets attention. You eat lean protein when you need energy, good fats for healthy hair, skin, and nails, and grains to keep your system running smoothly. But what should you eat to keep your vagina in top condition? Believe it or not, certain foods can help women stay happy and healthy, such as can reduce cramps, fight infections, and maintain vaginal pH. Conversely, there are foods that can be bad for your vagina.

Well, for the health of your Miss V, the following foods you should consume and avoid.

Yogurt without taste
Yogurt has high levels of calcium and protein. It is a probiotic, which means it contains live bacteria. And varieties containing bacteria called Lactobacillus acidophilus can help keep the vaginal pH within the acid range, lowering the risk of yeast and other types of infections, says New York-based Alyssa Dweck, MD, ob-gyn and co. - The Complete A to Z for V. Other probiotic foods, such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir (fermented beverages similar to yogurt) may also help your vagina maintain the right pH balance. "Probiotics are very helpful," said Dr. Dweck.

Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is effective to prevent or alleviate urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, this juice often contains sugar. Instead, drink unsweetened cranberry juice if you are susceptible to Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Dr. Dweck. "There are certain ingredients in cranberry concentrates that make the slippery layer of the bladder (and therefore more resistant) to E. coli, the bacterium associated with the most common type of urinary tract infection," he said. The more you drink, the more likely you are to clear the bacteria before breeding and start triggering symptoms such as pain during urination.

water
Keeping well hydrated helps boost energy and circulation, and has positive benefits for your woman's hair as well, says Dr. Dweck. He recommends that women who are experiencing vaginal dryness drink six to eight glasses of water every day.

Ginger tea
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that ginger is as effective as ibuprofen to relieve PMS-related cramps. Although this research focuses on ginger capsules, this ginger tea recipe can help do the trick: add two tablespoons of fresh ginger root to water and leave for up to 15 minutes.

Soy
Soy products such as tofu and edamame contain isoflavones that mimic estrogen, Dr. Dweck. Although this is not proven by science, some experts argue that plant estrogen can have the same effect as estrogen produced naturally by women, reducing vaginal dryness caused by hormonal changes.
"Yes, soy products generally contain phytoestrogens, which have some qualities like estrogen," he explains. "But you have to consume a ton of soybeans to get a real estrogenic effect from food." If drought is something you're dealing with, you might want to add soy products to your plate.

Candy
Sure, a bit of dark chocolate can ease the frustration of PMS. But in general, excess sugar is not friendly to the vagina. "People susceptible to yeast infections should reduce sweets, because sugar can increase the growth of yeast in the vagina," explains Leena Nathan, MD, ob-gyn at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The secretion of the vagina contains sugar, Dr. Nathan, and yeasts tend to thrive in a sweet and damp environment.

Alcohol
Like sugar, alcohol can encourage yeast to grow in the vagina, Dr. Dweck, and may also aggravate menstrual cramps. Avoiding alcohol as much as possible is a good idea if you have to keep other parts of the body healthy. Studies have linked alcohol intake to breast cancer risk.