Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal conditions in women between the ages of 15 and 44. While the exact cause of this condition is not very clear, what’s known is that it occurs when there are changes to the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. There are several things that can upset the balance between “good” and “harmful” bacteria in the woman’s vagina. For instance, having multiple sexual partners can upset this balance and increase the risk of getting bacterial vaginosis.

Once one gets this condition, one of the things they have to be careful with is the diet. There are foods that can either help control bacterial vaginosis or some that could make it worse or more difficult to control. Here are five foods to avoid when dealing with recurring BV.

Sugar

It’s a known fact that too much sugar isn’t good for vaginal health. Eating too much sugar can damage or kill the good bacteria in the vagina, particularly Lactobacilli. Sugar has the exact opposite effect to that of probiotics for BV. Once the good bacteria in the vagina are damaged or killed, there can be an overgrowth of unwanted bacteria in the vagina. This imbalance can lead to several problems, including BV, yeast infections, soreness, and irritation. These are conditions that you don’t want to have to deal with, especially when facing recurring BV.

Processed food

Processed foods can affect immune function in several ways. This can allow harmful bacteria to take over and increase the risk of recurring BV. Apart from bacterial vaginosis, eating processed foods can also cause yeast infections, dryness, and urinary tract infections. Therefore, it is a good idea to stay away from processed foods if you are dealing with recurring BV.

Dairy with preservatives and hormones

You must also avoid dairy with preservatives and hormones when dealing with BV. There are certain dairy products that contain xenoestrogens. These are artificial hormones that are similar in function to estrogen. Increased intake of foods containing these hormones is known to block estrogen from the vagina. This prevents the formation of the mucosal lining and leaves the vagina open to bacterial infection.

Fatty and greasy food

Several clinical studies were conducted to show the relationship between high fat intake and BV. While the exact link between high intake of saturated fats and BV is not clear, it is thought that eating fatty and greasy foods may increase the pH of the vagina, and this can increase the risk of upsetting the balance of bacteria in the vagina. In the studies that were conducted, it was shown that there is an association between fatty and greasy food and increased vaginal pH and therefore altered vaginal microflora.

There is also another theory behind why fatty and grease food may be associated with BV. This theory is related to the role of dietary fat as a stimulator of immunological functions of the intestinal mucosa. Fat intake contributes to immune system modulation, and it affects the mucosal immune system, which might increase the risk of the growth of certain harmful bacteria in the vagina.

Coffee

Sadly, caffeine is also one of the foods that are bad for your vagina when you are dealing with recurring BV. Caffeine is known to be bad for those suffering from BV for several reasons. Research shows that caffeine can limit the ability of the immune system to fight against certain bacterial and yeast infections. This will result in the vagina being more susceptible to certain bacteria.

Apart from that, caffeine can also prevent you from getting a lot of sleep. It does this by stimulating your adrenal glands, which then release adrenalin and cortisol. While this is good for when you want to stay awake, it also disrupts hormonal levels, which can cause bacterial overgrowth.

Lastly, we have already gone through how sugar is a bad idea when dealing with BV. Caffeine is known to destabilize blood sugar levels. One of the effects of having caffeine in the bloodstream is that certain cells become less sensitive to insulin, and this causes the pancreas to produce more of the hormone. The end result is that there will be an increase in blood sugar which causes the vagina to be more susceptible to bacterial imbalance, and this is bad for BV prevention.

If you’re suffering from recurring BV, yeast infections, and/or UTIs, it’s extremely important for you to take  daily probiotics that will help your vagina stay healthy and balanced. Our vaginal probiotics promote the growth of good bacteria using 8 clinically studied strains of probiotics that produce lactic acid and keep your pH level balanced. Balanced pH level is the perfect natural protection from harmful bacteria that can cause BV and yeast infections. You can order our V-Luxe vaginal probiotics here.