What's the story with yogurt curing yeast infections?!
Question: I have seen people write about how yogurt cures yeast infections - some say by eating it and others by actually putting it on the infected area. I'm all about natural remedies, but does this actually work?!
Answers: I have seen people write about how yogurt cures yeast infections - some say by eating it and others by actually putting it on the infected area. I'm all about natural remedies, but does this actually work?!
It's the healthy bacterias in yogurt that do the job.
I may be a guy, but I know cuz my kid sister used to get yeast infections all the time and my mom would be all on her all the time about eating enough yogurt and enough of the right yogurt.
The best yogurt that she ate was Yo-Baby. I guess it's made for babies pretty much but it comes with all the right cultures (bacteria) that promote your health. I've tried it and it rules! Only thing that sucks is that it comes in pretty small containers since it was originally intended for babies.
Yes, it actually works.
there is a good bacteria in yogurt that does help keep your system in check. you don't have to put it on there you can just eat some everyday. yogurt is very good for you
My doc recommends it to PREVENT not cure. Eating it, of course! Never heard of putting yogurt on the area, but I did hear of using vinegar to help with the itch and odor.
Yeast infections happen when the internal bacterial balance is disrupted.
So because yogurt has good bacterial it helps bring back balance. - it does not generally cure all on it's own. So taken orally it acts similar to an anti biotic taken orally for an ear infection. What i mean is the body sends the good guys where they are needed the same way it send the doc's pill. In curing a yeast infection there is lots of stuff that should be done to fix it.
I don't know about infected areas in other parts of the body but i do know yogurt helps sooth vaginal yeast infection. Only use plain yogurt of course! try a dab of yogurt on a sunburn how does it feel, cool and wet. Well same for the vagina, yeast infections can be very drying and cause inflamation, so yogurt is cool,rehydrating and natural. Yeast infection creams can cause burning and itch in some people, most people are not allergic to yogurt.
it works wonder as it has flora.
I was also told by a doctor, and it proved true for me, that when I was just first getting a yeast infection, I would notice an increase in my desire for sugar because yeast feeds on sugar. he was right, I did notice this so my advice on the yogurt thing is to either eat the plain or artificially sweetned and yes you can apply plain yogurt to the 'area' and even insert it(tough, I know) and it will ease symptoms but you need the real meds to get rid of it. Always look for yogurt with 'active cultures'.
There are two seperate reasons for it.
The first is that yeast (and other fungal conditions) will always exist in the body. They are kept in check by friendly bacteria (especially in the digestive system) that eat them. When the bacteria populations are too reduced (ie overusing antibiotics), or something in provided to help the yeast grow more virulently, the yeast can take over, spread throughout the body and give someone a condition like candida.
Things that provide the friendly bacteria are often called probiotiotics, and probiotics are very popular in the natural health sector. Yogurt is one of the better common food item probiotics, so it's often the default choice. That's not to say it's the best (and many yogurts are fairly useless for the application), so just having Yogurt is not gaurenteed to do the trick. If you know a good naturopath they can recomend a probiotic to you, but thus far Kefir is the best one I've come across (it's a weird drink).
Secondly, yogurt will often release hydrogen peroxide in your body, which is extremely toxic to fungal things. There's a home remedy for vaginal yeast infections where women freeze sticks of yogurt and then put them in their vaginas, and after some research it was figured out the mechanism for it being effective was generation of H2O2. I don't think this approach is that great since most of the yogurt constituents that can generate H2O2 die upon freezing.
Those are the basically the two mechanisms for action with yogurt. I think the best approach is to introduce hydrogen peroxide to system first to clear out most of the yeast infection, and then a lot of probiotics to finish the up, but if you use yogurt properly it can do the trick as well.
Try Kefir, a fermented milk it has many more of the good biotics in them then just yogurt does. just make sure you get one with fruit in it, the plain kefir can be abit sour for many people. You can find it at natural health food stores, whole foods stores places like that
I make my own kefir because I drink it each day and that lowers the cost. A 32 oz bottle of kefir will run you $2.99 to $4.29 depending on the store.
Some information about the differences
Both kefir and yogurt are cultured milk products...
...but they contain different types of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat that yogurt cannot match.
Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and Streptococcus species.
It also contains beneficial yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.
Kefir's active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy.
Because the curd size of kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, invalids and the elderly, as well as a remedy for digestive disorders.
The benefits of consuming kefir regularly in the diet
Easily digested, it cleanses the intestines, provides beneficial bacteria and yeast, vitamins and minerals, and complete proteins. Because kefir is such a balanced and nourishing food, it contributes to a healthy immune system and has been used to help patients suffering from AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, and cancer. Its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system has benefited many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
The regular use of kefir can help relieve all intestinal disorders, promote bowel movement, reduce flatulence and create a healthier digestive system. In addition, its cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balanced inner ecosystem for optimum health and longevity.
Kefir can also help eliminate unhealthy food cravings by making the body more nourished and balanced. Its excellent nutritional content offers healing and health-maintenance benefits to people in every type of condition.