Many of you must have heard that yogurt has an amazing effect on yeast infections. Still, the question that comes to your mind is, can yogurt cure a yeast infection? And if yes, then how do we use it to cure the infection? The answers to these relevant questions are addressed in this following article. Read on…
Let us first try to understand the root cause of a yeast infection, which is also often referred to as candidiasis. A fungus named Candida albicans is responsible for causing this infection. You will be surprised to know that this particular fungus already exists in your body without causing any infection. The acidic balance of the body prevents any abnormal growth of the fungus. However, when it goes out of balance for some reasons, then there is an overgrowth of the fungus, and a yeast infection occurs. This kind of imbalance could be triggered by a number of factors such as hormonal changes, prolonged use of medicines like antibiotics, lack of personal hygiene, weak immune system and so on.
Can Yogurt Cure a Yeast Infection?
In normal conditions, there are some ‘friendly’ bacteria and some ‘harmful’ bacteria in your body. It is the so-called ‘good’ bacteria that play a major role in keeping the growth of Candida fungus in check. When an acidic imbalance is created in the body or the number of good bacteria decreases, then the bad bacteria get the scope to grow abnormally in numbers and provide ideal conditions for yeast infection. Yogurt contains a particular bacteria named Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is considered as a friendly bacteria for your body. The Lactobacilli supplied by yogurt interact with sugar, which actually feeds on Candida albicans, and promotes its growth. Under the influence of the bacteria, sugar undergoes fermentation and gets converted into lactic acid, which in the process produces hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide thus formed creates an unfavorable environment for the growth of Candida fungus. Thus, we can say that yogurt is good for yeast infections because it eradicates the root cause of the problem by restoring the acidity or pH levels and controlling the growth of the fungus.
Using Yogurt to Cure a Yeast infection
The two different ways of using yogurt to cure yeast infections are as follows –
For Internal Use
When you are suffering from a yeast infection, you must include yogurt in your daily diet. Have yogurt before every meal. This will destroy the Candida fungus growing inside the intestines. Here, I would like to tell you that eating yogurt not only cures intestinal yeast infection, but also controls growth of the fungus in other parts of the body. This is possible because the acidic imbalance of the entire body is rectified by eating yogurt. Thus, growth of fungus in any part of the body can be controlled and you can get relief from annoying symptoms of yeast infection.
For External Use
Candida albicans grows rapidly in warm, damp body parts such as underarms, genital area, in between toes, etc. Apply yogurt on the infected parts of the body generously, leave it untouched for an hour, and then wipe it off. Repeat the application three times a day for a week and the infection will subside. If it is a serious infection, then you can leave the yogurt on the infected area overnight. Women tend to get yeast infections in the vaginal area and its symptoms are very severe. To get relief from these symptoms, you have to use yogurt a bit differently. Freeze the yogurt in the refrigerator for some time. Dip a tampon into the yogurt and insert it into the vaginal tract. Rub some yogurt on the outside part as well. Leave it untouched overnight. Next morning, remove the tampon and wash off the area with water. It should be repeated for three consecutive nights, after which the infection gets eliminated completely.
You can use either homemade yogurt or purchase it from the food stores for this treatment. While purchasing yogurt for treating yeast infection, you have to keep a few things in your mind. You must select plain, unsweetened yogurt that does not contain any coloring agent or fruits. Read the label carefully to confirm that it contains ‘active live cultures’, which means that it has Lactobacillus acidophilus in it, which is essential for destroying Candida albicans and curing yeast infection.
