VAGINAL health can be affected by a poor diet, making a female more prone to common problems related to poor immune function.
What females eat and drink can also affect the pH of their vagina and may contribute to levels of moisture or dryness.
Which foods are good for vaginal health?
Your general health, including the effective functioning of your vagina, is best served by a varied and balanced diet.
As a general rule, it is advisable to follow standard guidelines that recommend a diet rich in fibre, protein, and essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.
You should avoid or severely limit processed and fatty, sugary carbohydrates in your daily diet.
Nutrition experts often recommend that you eat a “rainbow” of foods, which means including lots of different coloured foods in your diet, from red peppers through to blueberries, for example.
This is because the natural colour of foods indicates high levels of certain beneficial nutrients, and eating a broad spectrum of colours provides a good variety of these essential vitamins and minerals, keeping the diet interesting as well as balanced.
Vegetables, including legumes such as lentils and beans, grains and cereals such as quinoa and oats, nuts and seeds, are good plant-derived sources of fibre, protein and essential nutrients.
Note about sugar
Eating whole fruits gives you a range of vitamins and minerals and is the best way of including some sugar in your diet.
Processed or preserved fruits and just drinking fruit juice can create a spike in your blood sugar levels, because the sugar is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.
When you eat the whole fruit, including the skin (when possible) and pith, the fibre and nutrients help slow the release of sugar into your blood, which means your blood sugar levels are likely to stay steadier.
They are less likely to rise sharply and then crash. Some physicians think sugar can make yeast problems worse.
If you have a tendency to yeast infections, it may be best to restrict the amount of sugar in your diet.
Five foods to boost vaginal health
Yoghurt with live or active cultures contains helpful bacteria, such as lactobacilli, that can contribute to the maintenance of the healthy, slightly acidic pH of the vagina.
Soy
As well as being a good source of protein and other nutrients for vegetarian and vegan women, soy foods that contain phytoestrogens help to keep the vagina lubricated and functioning normally.
Avoid soy products that try to mimic meat products, eg, soy burgers, soy bacon, etc. These tend to be over-processed and full of salt and other unhealthy additives.
Avocados
They contain lots of helpful vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, that help support the natural moisturising functions of the vagina.
Almonds
Almonds and other nuts and seeds that are high in zinc are useful to include in the diet. Zinc is an important mineral in hormone production and contributes to a strong immune system.
Foods to avoid
Too much of any type of food, even fruit, is not a good idea. Aim for moderation in what you eat.
Highly processed foods, which are high in salt, fat and sugar; excessive alcohol consumption and too much caffeine should be avoided.
The general rule is that foods that are good for your overall health are good for your vagina too.
Drink plenty of water. Many women don’t drink enough. Proper hydration is important for healthy vaginal function. Take caffeine-free herbal tea. You’ll feel the benefit.
