Can beer make a vaginal infection worse? Many yeast infection sufferers ask this question. Prior to discussing the dietary patterns that can aggravate vaginal yeast infection, let’s briefly go over the root causes of this medical condition.
Candida
albicans is a species of yeast that causes vaginal yeast
infections in animals and humans. This species usually
lives as a non-parasitic. This means that this type of
yeast thrives in our intestines, vaginal surfaces and
even bloodstreams without harming our bodies. What
causes the infection, though, is its overgrowth as it
combats other useful bacteria in the body, without which
it can adversely affect the immune system and other
metabolic processes.
One
symptom of vaginal yeast infection is a white, thick
discharge that usually smells like spoilt bread or beer,
basically, much exactly like yeast. However, the yeast
used in beer brewing and food processing is different
from the pathogenic yeast in vaginal yeast infection.
Again, Candida albicans is the yeast that infects the
vulva. The one used in beer brewing is brettanomyces, or
the food yeast.
Some
health experts say that vaginal yeast infections can
likely be obtained from too much beer and liquor and
other yeast-based food. Others infer that the infection
can be sexually transmitted as well. Male beer drinkers
can develop skin yeast infection on the penis
unconsciously. This condition is not harmful for them
since the temperature outside the penis skin is around
77 degrees Fahrenheit where yeast remains dormant. Once
yeast is transported to the vaginal canal, where warmth
and moisture makes it conducive for yeast breeding, a
vaginal yeast infection might
occur.
However,
most others say that there are no proven connections
between diet and vaginal yeast infection as yet, given
the fact that the candida yeast is a completely
different type from brewer’s yeast. The former being
known as pathogenic while the latter as a staple
ingredient in bread, beer, pastries,
etc.
A
few other specialists think that although beer and other
liquor may not be a direct cause of vaginal yeast
infection, it may aggravate the overgrowth of candida
yeast in the body. What happens is that the yeast put in
beer ferments sugar and other simple carbohydrates in
it. So the more sugar gets fermented, the more reasons
for whatever species of fungi – including candida
albicans – to thrive and propagate in the
body.
As
we can see, there are varying schools of thought on
whether or not beer can make
vaginal yeast infection worse and that makes it hard
for us to know the symptoms and the measures we need to
take. If we don’t have the infection, there is no harm
to lower the consumption on beer and other alcoholic
beverages. We may not avoid getting vaginal yeast
infection by doing so, but we will surely avoid other
known diseases caused by too much alcohol. Prevention
and abstinence is never a bad
thing.
Nonetheless, avoidance of beer and liquor is highly advised to women having recurring yeast infection to avoid further yeast development in the body. Note that the above vaginal yeast infection dietary principles, including avoidance of beer, can be highly beneficial for controlling vaginal yeast infections, yet it is only a small part of the comprehensive holistic treatment. Did you know that your painful, debilitating vaginal yeast infection could be safely and permanently cured using powerful all-natural holistic methods? The holistic approach is aimed at tackling all internal factors that lead to vaginal yeast infection, thus helping to eradicate and prevent the recurrence of this medical condition.
