Food June 29, 2018
Find out what you need to eat to boost your vaginal health.
Vaginal health is important to all of us. Our vaginas might be out of sight, but they should never be out of mind. Surprisingly, the key to our hearts – and to vaginal health – is through our stomachs. Good thing we love to eat, and our vaginas greatly appreciate that! But we might be skipping certain foods that our vaginas need to be happy. So what’s on the menu?
These tart, red berries can keep your vagina free of unwanted bacteria. Studies show that cranberries can help to prevent UTIs in women who have had recurring UTIs. Cranberries are super tart and might not be your favorite thing to eat fresh, but according to Health Line the best option is natural and sugar-free. “Just make sure you stay away from the sugar-loaded cranberry juice varieties, which can actually make things worse down there,” Health Line advises.
Yogurt is a great snack because it’s loaded with probiotics, but it’s also a great vehicle for other good-for-your-vag snacks like cranberries. According to Women’s Health Magazine, “getting into the habit of snacking on these foods after sex can help to replenish the body’s good bacteria, helping to decrease your risk of a yeast infection.” Don’t like the tartness of cranberries? Mix them into yogurt for a major double-whammy of health benefits for your vagina!
Maybe sushi isn’t your thing, but salmon and other fatty fish really should be if you want a healthy vagina. According to Health Line, omega-3 fatty acids can help with circulation, blood flow and sex drive. “These essential fatty acids, as well as others found in sea buckthorn oil, like palmitoleic, linoleic, oleic, and palmitic, were shown in a 2014 study to help with vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women,” Health Line said. Eating fatty types of fish like salmon can be a great way to get this good stuff in your system. So, cooked or uncooked – your vagina says, “yes please!”
Avocados are a trendy food, and they’re sure to be trending with your vagina. “Your favorite toast topper is also great for your sex life — who knew? Avocados are ample in healthy fats, vitamin B-6 and potassium — all of which have positive effects on your libido,” Health Line says. You can put avocado on pretty much anything! Check out our favorite recipes for guacamole and beyond!
After all that food, it’s time to wash it down. We already know water is the answer to everything, but maybe we sometimes forget that our little friends down below need it just as much as the rest of our body does. Water gets rid of waste through urination and is a natural way to flush out bad bacteria, so it’s vaginal health’s best friend.
“The inside of your vagina is normally acidic and is perfect for the protective organisms that live in there,” women’s health expert Sherry A. Ross, M.D. told Glamour, “Anything that disrupts this delicate balance could lead to issues like an infection, dryness, itching, or burning.”
