How To Prevent A Yeast Infection?

Steps To Prevent A Candida Overgrowth

If you suffer with recurring yeast infections there are things you can do to prevent them. Whether you are a man or a woman there are steps you can take and diet is just one of them.

Prevention Steps For Women

If you are one of the many women who frequently suffer from vaginal yeast infections, here are a few simple steps to start being free of the problem.

• Scented Talcs and Feminine Products – Avoid using scented feminine products, talcs or soaps, as these can cause yeast infections. They can irritate the area and create a breeding ground. Therefore stop using scented feminine protection of any kind. The fragrance has been found to be disruptive to the female system. If you keep yourself clean, you don’t smell, so you don’t need to perfume your female areas.

• Stop Douching – This goes back to the body’s own cleaning system and when you douche, you actually kill the good bacteria which is in the vaginal area and helps it to maintain tolerable levels of yeast. So, no more douching.

• Clothing – Wear cotton panties instead of lacy thongs and keep the tight jeans and pantyhose to a minimum if you can. This is especially true if it’s hot. You’ll only make your problem worse by making an ideal breeding ground for yeast, so do yourself a favor if you can and change your wardrobe if this is what you normally wear.

Prevention Steps For Men

Yes, there are male yeast infections. Most often, your infections are familiar to you as jock itch or athlete’s foot, (which are not created by the fungus Candida albicans) but males still do suffer with penile yeast infections, which is a candida overgrowth. Although your yeast infections are more topical, compared to that of a woman, they are still a problem you can deal with.

• Wear Loose Undergarments – Tighty-whities are not your best choice and if you wear this type of underwear and tend to engage in activities where you sweat a lot, then you are likely going to suffer from jock itch or yeast infection.

• Keep Dry – Try to keep your genital area dry and make sure to clean yourself up as soon as you get a chance because sweaty skin anywhere can be a breeding ground for yeast.

• Athlete’s Foot –  Again, this is caused by the fungus Tinea cruris, but to stop the problem, don’t let your feet sit in the same sweaty socks for too long if you can help it. At the end of the day, give your feet some air and make sure to keep them clean. If you’re in a situation where you can’t take your shoes off, you may want to consider changing your socks every few hours to prevent athlete’s foot.

Prevention Steps For Both

There are a few changes that we all can make to help prevent male and female yeast infections and that includes:

• Diet – Cut down on foods which are high in yeast and sugar. Sugar is yeast’s main form of food, so when you eliminate a lot of it, you’re starving the yeast. Eat fresh fruits and veggies which offer essential nutrition.

• Probiotics – Supplement your body’s natural store of “good” bacteria by eating yogurt or drinking a probiotic drink once daily. Probiotics are also helpful in improving the immune system. It helps keep your system balanced. Acidophilus is used for treating and preventing vaginal yeast infections and also oral yeast infections. Acidophilus yogurt contains live cultures, which is excellent for the body’s good bacteria.

You can fight a Candida overgrowth by making positive changes and taking preventative steps. By working to improve your diet and lifestyle you have a good head start. Prevention is better than treatment, but if all else fails, use a natural yeast infection treatment if possible!