Probiotics are microorganisms that, when consumed in fortified foods like yogurt, can help populate your digestive system with "good" bacteria. Other microorganisms, which can be considered "bad" can cause illnesses such as infectious diarrhea or yeast infections, if they overpopulate your body. Eating probiotic yogurt may help decrease the number of "bad" bacteria and help populate your digestive system with yeast-infection fighting "good" bacteria. Check with your doctor before using any natural approach.
Yeast Infection
Yeast infections, according to Medline Plus, is usually caused by a fungus known as Candida albicans. This fungus occurs naturally in your body, however, under certain conditions, it can grow exponentially and cause inflammation. The Mayo Clinic explains that this inflammation can lead to an infection known as candidiasis. As many as 75 percent of all women have or will experience a yeast infection at some time in their lives. The condition can be caused by the use of antibiotics, which kill both "good" and "bad" bacteria indiscriminately. Additionally, pregnant women, diabetics and people with compromised immunity are more prone to yeast infections.
Probiotic Yogurt and Yeast Infection
A May 2003 review of the research published in "Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey" examined the effectiveness of complementary approaches for treating yeast infections and found promising results for probiotic use. The reviewers explain that recolonizing the body's beneficial bacteria by using yogurt appears to effectively help women fight yeast infections with few risks. It's important to understand that a yogurt should list "live active cultures" on the label, or it may not contain probiotics. Yogurt with probiotics can generally be found at your local grocery or health food store.
Dosage
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that the recommended daily dosage of probiotics for yeast infections is 5 to 10 billion colony forming units, or CFUs. Read nutritional labels on yogurt products that contain live active cultures to check the amount of CFUs they contain and consume the corresponding amount of yogurt to equal the recommended amount. To maintain freshness and keep the probiotic bacteria alive, they also recommend that you keep your probiotic yogurt refrigerated.
Safety
An article published in the 2003 issue of "Clinical Infectious Diseases" explains that probiotics are considered to be generally safe for consumption by humans. In fact, probiotics help several foods from spoiling, thanks to the protective effect of the bacteria. Most people can use probiotic yogurt without adverse effects, unless they have a pre-existing allergy to one or more of the substances that are used to make yogurt. If you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications or have a pre-existing medical condition however, check with your doctor before consuming probiotic yogurt.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Introduction to Probiotics
- Medline Plus: Vaginal Yeast Infection
- Mayo Clinic: Yeast Infection (Vaginal)
- "Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey": Common Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Yeast Vaginitis and Bacterial Vaginosis: A Systematic Review: K. Van Kessel, et al.: 2003
- Medline Plus: Lactobacillus
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vaginitis
