Yeast Infections: Natural Prevention and Remedies

Yeast infections aren’t something many people enjoy talking about. Unfortunately, because of this, yeast infections are misunderstood and often suffered in silence. I bet there’s a good chance you don’t realize just how common yeast infections really are. Three out of four women will have at least one yeast infection during their lifetime. About five percent of these cases will become recurring, with multiple infections happening a year. Many of these can be prevented by paying attention to the warning signs and arming yourself with the right remedies.

The culprit behind yeast infections belongs to Candida: a yeast found in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vagina. In small amounts, candida yeast lives in complete harmony with the rest of the body. However, there are several factors that allow this yeast to grow unchecked. Sugary diets, stress, pregnancy, hormonal imbalances and antibiotics are all known causes of yeast infections.

Luckily, there are a number of natural, healthy ways to help cure and prevent yeast infections. Follow these health tips and keep candida in its place!

Honey

Honey has long been used as a natural treatment to remedy a variety of skin conditions including burns, bacterial infections, pressure ulcers and yes, yeast infections.It works by naturally releasing hydrogen peroxide which in turn helps wipe out harmful bacteria that can cause infections. Importantly, make sure to use 100 percent honey. Many store bought brands, even raw honey, contain corn syrup derivatives which can actually spread infection as opposed to fighting it.

While Candida albicans is known to feed off sugar, in high enough doses, sugar smothers yeast, helping to fight and eliminate the infection. I suppose too much of a good thing really can be bad. Just in case it needs to be said: eating honey is not going to work. It’s actually way easier to deal with yeast infections by reducing sugar in daily diets. However, a vaginal suppository of honey – in combination with essential oils and plain yogurt – is known to be very effective at fighting and controlling yeast infections. One last thing about honey: it offers a low pH balance which is great for slowing yeast growth.