|  | Conditions Treatments | Infectious Diseases

Live & Active Cultures: Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are more common in women and manifest themselves as vaginal yeast infections as the result of the fungus Candida albicans, according to the National Library of Medicine. Yeast infections are commonly treated with over-the-counter drugs or a prescription based on the severity of the yeast infection. A natural approach used to help restore the body's defenses is live and active cultures.

  1. Function

    • Eating yogurt with live and active cultures helps to reduce the amount of yeast colonies in the vagina, according to Dr. Sears. He recommends eating eight ounces daily to see a significant decrease of the yeast. The body has natural good bacteria that helps maintain the proper balance on the skin, preventing yeast from colonizing and taking over. Live and active cultures help to replenish the good bacteria, strengthening the natural body balance.

    Types

    • Live and active cultures are naturally found in most yogurts. Yogurt is made from dairy that is infused with live bacteria that grows over time and thickens the milk. Live and active cultures can also be acquired from a daily supplement. Most daily active culture supplements are taken once to twice daily to maintain healthy levels of probiotics (live and active cultures).

    Food and Beverage

    • Aside from yogurt, live and active cultures are found in a variety of foods and beverages such as unfermented milk, some juices and miso. Some cheeses may also have healthy bacteria considered a probiotic.

    Benefits

    • The Mayo Clinic states that live and active cultures have been shown to improve a person's overall general health by strengthening the immune system. Probiotics help to maintain proper digestive and colon health. A slow or compromised digestive tract can lead to health complications because of trapped toxins.

    Considerations

    • Live and active cultures will not cure or effectively treat all yeast infections. If a yeast infection spreads or does not go away, a person should consult with a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. Live and active cultures may be used in addition to prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. They can also be used on a daily basis to prevent a yeast infection from reoccurring, according to the National Library of Medicine. A person cannot overdose on probiotic supplements, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Infectious Diseases - Related Articles