Vaginal Microbiome

Image via: Sunday Lane

Just like our gut and our skin, as women our vagina also has a microbiome.

For those who don’t know what I am talking about when it comes to a microbiome, this is the name given to the microorganisms in a particular environment (specifically the vagina in this case). Here our vaginal microbiome is mostly dominated by the bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus. This type of bacteria is used to support our body to create an acidic environment thought to protect against sexually transmitted pathogens and opportunistic infections. Its just incredible isn’t it.

However, when our diets are high in glycogen (sugar) especially those of refined varieties (think white bread, packaged foods, soft drinks, poor quality dairy) this can throw not only our gut microbiome out but also that microbiome of our vagina. In cases such as these nutritional medicine can serve of such an incredible benefit for such patients, as we work with the individual to help bring their body back into balance.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙨
In turn this ‘dis harmony’ can result in vaginal candida a.k.a thrush which is not a fun time for anyone involved. Here you will suffer from intense itching, redness, inflammation and/or a thick white discharge from your vagina.

𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙
Just like any case each patient will vary where I don’t like to give out ‘general advice’. However, foods to avoid in cases of vaginal candida include; all refined carbohydrates, alcohol, processed meats, poor quality oils, high fructose fruits such as bananas, watermelon, mango and dates just to name a few. Why? Because these foods feed those nasty buggers as they loveeee sugar, which is expressed via sugar cravings. Click here to browse my nourishing refined sugar free, gluten free and dairy free recipes.

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If you seeking help to get your body back to a healthy thriving state, click here to book in for a Nutritional Medicine consultation where I practice in clinic and online Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.