It's no fun being sick. But some infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, can be treated naturally. Read more below as to how.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) can infect people between the ages of about 15 to 44 years old. Its symptoms include a watery discharge from the vagina and a “fishy” smell. Some cases of this condition may include itching as well. Failure to treat BV can lead to severe health complications, but it’s possible to apply organic remedies to treat BV naturally. Continue reading to know about three natural tips for treating this health issue that’s unique to women.
Start Consuming Probiotics
Treating BV naturally might mean changing your diet to fit a healthy lifestyle. One food option to start including in your daily diet is yogurt.
Yogurt is a natural probiotic. Probiotics are live, healthy bacteria good for the digestive system. Moreover, these substances keep the gut healthy to deliver benefits like improving symptoms related to ailments such as:
- Infectious diarrhea
- Diarrhea caused by medicines
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Consuming more probiotics as part of a healthy diet may also help combat and prevent BV. Maintain a healthy female body by taking probiotic supplements daily to help treat the condition if you’re not a fan of eating yogurt. Furthermore, probiotics can help prevent future cases of BV as the substances can assist in fending off harmful bacteria in the body.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
At its core, apple cider vinegar is fruit juice. However, manufacturers of this product add yeast to turn the juice’s sugar content to alcohol. Some folks don’t like the strong smell emanating from apple cider vinegar. But its many health benefits should draw you to using this organic BV solution despite its strong aroma.
Use apple cider vinegar to help balance vaginal pH. Apply two tablespoons of this "condiment", along with a cup of water, on your lady parts. Do this procedure twice a day to help alleviate BV-related symptoms.
You may also add a bit of organic honey to the mix to help boost the effectiveness of the vinegar. Honey has antimicrobial properties that may aid in combating harmful bacteria in the body.
Again, if you're not too keen on using apple cider vinegar in its liquid form, you can consume supplements instead.
Eat Low Inflammatory Recipes
One of the potential causes of BV is inflammation. So it would be best if you started eating low inflammatory recipes to help alleviate, prevent, and treat this specific health concern.
There are many low inflammatory dishes, so it can be challenging to pick a meal or snack to start. You can try the following recipe for artichoke ricotta flatbread to help kick start your healthy diet. For this, you’ll need:
- ½ pound pizza dough
- 1-1/2 whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 tbsp basil, chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 8 oz artichokes, drained, marinated
- 6 oz mortadella or prosciutto, torn
- 3 cups arugula
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shaved
- 1 tbsp chives, chopped
- Olive oil (for drizzling)
Start preparing for this dish by preheating an oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, prepare a large baking sheet by spreading olive oil over it.
Next, pour flour on a surface and push or roll the pizza dough on it until it's very thin. Transfer the pizza dough to the baking sheet and drizzle it with olive oil. Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on it for taste.
Place the pizza dough in the oven, and let it sit there for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until it achieves a golden-brown crust. While the pizza dough is in the oven, stir the basil, honey, and ricotta in a separate bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to this concoction for taste.
Scatter the artichokes in the bowl before adding the torn mortadella or prosciutto. Top the dish with the arugula and shaved parmesan before serving. You may also add lemon vinaigrette to the recipe to add a "kick" of flavor if desired.
This dish has plenty of anti-inflammatory characteristics to help combat and prevent BV. It should be noted that the number of ingredients posted above should serve four people. You can adjust the ingredients if you're only cooking for one person.