Can Diet Be A Part of Your Natural Remedy for Bacterial Vaginosis?

You may have learned a few tips to relieve bacterial vaginosis naturally, but you may not know that your vitamin intake plays an important part, too. Indeed, a healthy diet may well be your natural remedy for bacterial vaginosis infection.

This article will give an overview on several vitamins important in helping to cure bacterial vaginosis (BV) naturally.

Certain factors such as race, vaginal douching, contraceptive pill and smoking, have been identified as risk factors for BV, but it remains uncertain as to the exact underlying cause of BV. Other predisposing factors known include chronic stress and poor immune system.

Inadequate dietary micronutrients can jeopardize the body's immune functions and thus makes women more prone to BV. So, eating well is vital to keep your body's defense system in top condition and also acting as a natural remedy for BV.

In fact, the relationship between a woman's nutrient status and BV has been demonstrated in many studies. For example, a study has shown that the risk of BV was 50% higher in women who had high energy intake compared with low energy intake. The risk of severe BV was also more than two times greater in women consuming the highest total fat, monounsaturated fat and saturated fat, compared to those with the lowest intake. The reason is possibly that high fat intake may increase vaginal pH, which in turn triggers BV.

On the other hand, high intake of vitamin E, calcium and folic acid appear to protect women against severe BV. According to scientists, vitamin E and folic acid may help improve immune functioning, and therefore help in decreasing the likelihood of serious BV. However, the role of calcium in lowering the risk of severe BV remains unclear.

Another vitamin that may also be important in reducing the risk of bacterial infections is vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a wide range of immune disorders and chronic infections. Research shows that vitamin D deficiency is more common in black women than in their white counterparts; this may explain why BV is three times more frequent in black women than in white women. It is believed that vitamin D influences the body's immune function to be more responsive to bacterial invasion, and thus prevent and control bacterial infection, including BV.

In conclusion, diet may be part of your natural remedy for bacterial vaginosis, in terms of eating well and ensuring your vitamin intake is sufficient (i.e. meets your daily requirement according to dietary guidelines).

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