The Yogurt Lie?

[Sunflower23]

Hmm...this is new to me. Has anyone else heard about this before?

I recently ran across a post by a doctor regarding yogurt for treating frequent yeast and BV infections. (Lord knows we ICers get enough infections.) It caught my interest because I use yogurt ALL the time to treat infections. At first I was suspicious of what he said, but the more I searched google, the more medical studies and research papers I found supporting it. I'm actually a little angry now that it's not common knowledge. Here is what he said...

According to Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield, the strain of lactobaccilus that naturally exists in the vagina and prevents yeast infections, BV, and UTIs, is NOT the strain that exists in yogurt and probiotics. In other words, the lactobaccilus acidophilus that we get from yogurt and probiotic pills, does absolutely nothing to prevent infections because it cannot survive in the vagina long-term.

It seems that the medical community has not yet perfected a way to get the strains that DO exist naturally in the vagina (e.g. lactobaccilus crispatus and others) back into our bodies after they're gone (if they were wiped out by an antibiotic for example).

There is one product to try, though, Fem-Dophilus, which contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus fermentum, 2 of the strains that are said to occur naturally and theoretically should be able to survive and prevent infections. You can apparently buy Fem-Dophilus on Amazon.com. Judging from other posts on this website, other ICers find Fem-Dophilus helpful. I haven't tried it though, so I can't say myself how well it works.


Here are some of the papers and studies that I ran across if any of you are interested in reading them:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/3t372h4812q2757q/fulltext.pdf?page=1

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=154705

http://www.freshpatents.com/Probiotic-lactobacillus-strains-for-improved-vaginal-health-dt20081030ptan20080268006.php

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14973189



You can also see Dr. Handsfield's post here if you're interested: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Need-some-advice/show/247347

[sissygirl]

Rephresh (the company that makes Replens vaginal moisturizer and RePhresh vaginal pH cream) also makes a probiotic designed for vaginal flora. I have taken it after antibiotics. I have read the same thing--that despite all the talk of yogurt for yeast, yogurt does not contain the right kind of probiotic...

[merelin]

In the past I have use natural yoghurt (my mother's home made) very succesfully to cure vaginal yeast - faster than the creams. But this time I tried it with different yoghurt (I am living in India now) and it only gave temporary relief. I think some yoghurts do seem to work very well and others do very little so just try to get the most live and organic seeming one possible.

[ICNDonna]

Some years ago I read an article about yogurt being used for yeast infections. As I recall it was one of those things you had to use daily over several weeks. I didn't try it; the prescription remedies are so much faster.

Donna

[merelin]

if you use good quality yoghurt you will cure the infection faster than the yeast cream (used topically on a tampon ) if it is not good quality it wont work well.eating it probably wont be enough to clear up an infection but long term may prevent it.

[bluetou]

I have used plain yogurt for yeast many times, and it does work...if I am a bit too far along in my yeast diagnoses, then I use an acidpoholis suppository which does the trick!

Peace
Blue
:pray:

[TexasHoney]

I've used yogurt a couple times with Rx remidies and think the yogurt increased healing time slightly.

[glassd18]

I haven't had any luck taking a probiotic as they all seem to flare me (increase bladder pressure/pain). I tried Pearls for a month.

[Talula]

Best treatment for yeast infections and atheletes foot too! Don't eat sugar, fruit, or most breads for 3 or 4 weeks. I got rid ofa relentless case of atheletes foot by going on the candida diet for nearly a month, I was able to go back to eating fruit and sugar again, and my atheletes foot has not come back. Good bye exspensive antifungal creams!

[Natalie41]

I have never had any luck treating yeast infections with yogurt. Rx meds have always worked bst for me.

[Sunflower23]

Best treatment for yeast infections and atheletes foot too! Don't eat sugar, fruit, or most breads for 3 or 4 weeks. I got rid ofa relentless case of atheletes foot by going on the candida diet for nearly a month, I was able to go back to eating fruit and sugar again, and my atheletes foot has not come back. Good bye exspensive antifungal creams!

Intriguing. I think I'm actually going to try that. I've noticed that sugar always = instant yeast infection for me. Thanks for mentioning it. (I hope it works for me too!)

[LithEruiel]

Nothing is working for me right now, I'm going crazy...

[Talula]

Intriguing. I think I'm actually going to try that. I've noticed that sugar always = instant yeast infection for me. Thanks for mentioning it. (I hope it works for me too!)

Try googling the candida diet, though it is really hard with the IC diet, but its only temporary. Some are more restrictive than others. It can be very confusing. You just have to find what works for you. If your symptoms return, its a good indicator that your diet isn't restrictive enough.

[bluetou]

sorry you are having such a hard time....yeast can be an awful beast!!:cussing:

I went on the candida diet ( i personally did not find it restricting), choosing millet and quinoa and grains that are satisfying and comfort foods ...cooking them in almond milk (plain no cane sugar added), can also add a nice breakfast cereal.

I know I also NEEDED TO go on DIFLUCIN in order to get rid of my yeast. I was on this for 12 weeks I believe. I also took OIL OF OREGENO to rid my yeast. (I also took a good probiotic/acidopholis but that is a given...)

SO in combination with the above my yeast is GONE!

KEEP IN MIND SOME people do not do well with OIL OF OREGENO, but keep in mind it is also known to help symptoms of IC. FOR ME IT HELPED BOY MY YEAST AND IC! YEAH!!

DO A SEARCH here on the ic network and punch in oil of oregeno, it has received some RAVE REVIEWS!! (but also a few ladies have flared)...so caution always with something new if you do try.

WIshing you the best!!

Peace
Blue
:pray:

[Angeles]

Yogurth as well as probiotics are so good to our health I wouldn't not give them up!!!

I never really thought that by taking yogurth or probiotics orally I would cure yeast infections. That will be the heck of a trip for the lactobacilli to get from the mouth to the vagina.
However, we all know that stress, antibiotics, etc destroys our intestinal flora, our immune system goes down the hill, AND as a result we can't fight infections or get more prone to them.

Probiotics & yogurth help replenish the GI track flora and with a stronger immune system, your health gets stronger and yeah..if the lactobacilli happen to get to the vagina (after that long trip): Great!
So there's always a WIN - WIN

If you want lactobacilli in the vagina the best is to insert it as a suppository. Yogurth is too messy and you don't want it there.

If prescribed medications don't work for you, because yeast is resistant,
I recommend Jarrow Femdophilus probiotics orally AND vaginally. Do not use the original capsule: transfer the contents to a clear gelatin capsule. That way it can disolve in the vagina after you insert it.
Try clear gelatin capsuless size 00. The original probiotic capsule is designed to disolve in the intestines and survive stomach acid. Do not put in your vagina.

I also recommend Rephresh acid jel every 3 days.

In addition you can add Fluconazole 200mg for 10 days to knock it off.

Hang in there, and I hope it helps!:)
By the Way: I read one of the articles up there, the one from PubMed. Instersting stuff, I hope we can soon get access to the lactobacilli strains that are regularly found in the vagina. Thanks!