If you’ve ever tried to make pizza from scratch or brew your own kombucha at home (you brave soul), you’ve probably heard that yeast is a living thing. That’s why it’s able to expand and multiply to ferment things, make doughs rise, and all that good stuff.
So here’s the deal. Your body makes yeast too. It goes by the fancy scientific name of Candida albicans and it naturally occurs in small numbers, in the vagina. Unlike the stuff in your kitchen cabinet, however, Candida yeast is better kept under control—meaning that having just the right amount in your body is the difference between a healthy, thriving vaginal microbiome and—you guessed it—infection.
A vaginal yeast infection occurs when there’s an overgrowth of Candida yeast. Some women can have yeast (fungal) overgrowth with no symptoms at all, whereas it can severely impact another woman—potentially leading to chronic illness. Some common symptoms of a yeast infection include itching or soreness in the vagina, pain or burning when you urinate or have sex and unusual discharge. In addition, having an infection can also lead to allergies, inflammation, joint problems, mood and brain disorders, digestive symptoms, and more.
Which leads us to what baking yeast and Candida do have in common - they quickly multiply in environments that supply warmth, moisture, and sugar. A great way to avoid infection is to rebalance yeast in the body, starting with your diet.
The following guidelines are super helpful in keeping the yeast beast at bay:
Load Up On
- Non-starchy vegetables
- Low-sugar fruits
- Lots of fermented foods
- Gut-healing foods
- Healthy proteins and fats
- Water!
Cut Back On
- Added sugars
- Too much gluten
- Alcohol consumption
- Too much caffeine
Probiotics designed just for women, like Good Girl Probiotics, are also super helpful in providing a healthy dose of happy bacteria to the system to help keep yeast under control.
And, in case you’re looking for a bit of extra support, you can always turn to clean, good-for-you ingredients like turmeric, garlic, and grapefruit. Found in the Perfect Condition Vitamin, this trifecta of yeast-busting superstars helps support a healthy Candida yeast balance throughout your entire body. Not only do they break down yeast at the cellular level (which is important because yeast can get into the bloodstream and wreak havoc on all your internal organs), they also promote detoxification, support overall immune health, and help balance the vaginal tract, so your vagina stays fresh and healthy.
Conquering Candida can be tricky, but through diet, probiotics and supplements that support a healthy yeast balance, you can detoxify system-wide, restore your vaginal health and keep Candida at bay.