Can someone clear this up?

[Chicklady]

I fear I may have begun a case of yeast infection, so I've been reading up.
One one hand, I hear that you're supposed to avoid foods like dairy and vinegar based stuff, on the other, I hear using raw ACV and or yogurt as a "cream" helps relieve the itchy burny. Isn't that a contradiction? Also, what does anyone know about using kefir as a probiotic?

[Mirya]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

1) I can tell you that not many Doctors have even heard of the spit tes and I am beginning to wonder and question the spit tests validity. I have called 17 different Dr. offices over the weekend to ask them if they have ever heard of beign able to tell you have a yeast overgrowth by spitting into a glass of water first thing in the morning and all of them said no. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying you can't use this to tell.

2) I had my Dr. prescribe me 3 diflucan and am taking them 1 every 5 days if its not gone and also taking the probitic combonation Dr. Atkins sugests in his book.

I use the 1 million strength of the following:
Bifidus
Acidophilus
Bulgaris

I found that going by the labels at the store the products that had those 3 mixed into liek 12 or 14 microorganism pills actually had less a concentration of the ones Dr. A mentioned than the container that only had those 3 probitics.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

Not sure about yogurt used as a cream against itchyness Chicklady.
Re Kefir... in case you haven't seen this already, here's a link to a couple of articles on kefir from the Dannone site: http://dwb.unl.edu/Teacher/NSF/C11/C...net/kefir2.htm

[Chicklady]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

Not sure about yogurt used as a cream against itchyness Chicklady.
Re Kefir... in case you haven't seen this already, here's a link to a couple of articles on kefir from the Dannone site: http://dwb.unl.edu/Teacher/NSF/C11/C...net/kefir2.htm

After reading those articles, I wonder if what I'm consuming is really kefir. It says it is, but it's wicked thick and certainly has a much longer shelf life than three days.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

I seem to remember there was a pic at the top... and it seemed pretty thick; rather like ricotta.

[Chicklady]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

That "ricotta" is a pic of the kefir grains.....I ordered some before and tried making my own.....unsuccessfully. Always enjoyed drinking it and thought it would be as easy as making my own yogurt. However, it came out thin and sour, unlike the Lifeway brand I buy.

[HellOnWheels]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

DISCLAIMER: if that "Mom, do you ever get that not-so-fresh feeling?" commercial embarrassed you, stop reading now. Hard core girly stuff ahead.

I used to make my own kefir... always had overtones of latex paint to me, never got the hang of drinking it. That said, almost everything offered at the market as "kefir" is essentially sweetened, glorified drinking yogurt, cultured using acidophilus and bifidus strains instead of actual kefir grains. You're right: unadulterated kefir yogurt is quite sour and thin compared to Lifeway's products.

As for using yogurt topically to combat the vulvar itch associated with a yeast infection... I've never personally used it, but midwives and herbalists I've worked with swear by it, and here's why:

Our digestive tracts are home to both yeasts from our foods and beneficial bacteria, and when the yeast overgrowth occurs -- either by introducing too much yeast and/or sugar in the diet or, in the case of antibiotics, your good bacteria getting wiped out along with the bad ones -- your body pH shifts to a more alkaline than acidic state, making all your warm, damp spots ideal places for yeast to thrive. Taking in probiotics such as acidophilus helps restore your pH balance and keeps the yeasts in check. So topically applying plain yogurt -- NOT the sweetened kind, which would indeed be an exercise in futility -- puts live acidophilus cultures in position to duke it out with the yeasts flourshing on the surface(s) of your skin. I'm told plain yogurt can be diluted with warm water and used as a douche for the same purpose.

Things to avoid if you fear you're developing a yeast infection are balsamic vinegars and uncultured dairy (like milk and fresh cheeses) because they both contain sugars that will indeed feed the beasties! ACV and plain yogurt really are your allies in the fight. Use them on your outsides where yeasts are already present, but use them regularly on your insides to keep yeasts from getting out of control in the first place.

Hope this helps!

[Chicklady]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

Thanks hellonwheels. I still don't know why I would have gotten this, as, obviously, this diet is quite devoid of sugars and yeast (unless there's yeast in something besides bread?) the ACV baths work nicely-but temporarily. i will have to pick up some yogurt, although my kefir (whether real or not) does say it contains a bunch of different good bacteria. I did read one home remedy of putting a clove of garlic up there, but I can only imagine that burning like crazy----and hard to retrieve!!!

[HellOnWheels]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

I don't doubt the store-bought kefir has lots of little friendlies in it -- and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's not as good for you as it claims to be. It's just that the kind made by culturing actual kefir grains comes out quite differently than the ones simply inoculated with strains of those probiotic bacteria. As I understand it, it's the predominance of acidophilus that makes it 'yog' into the thick, creamy stuff rather than the fizzy-sour stuff you get by making kefir yourself.

But, more importantly...

Yes, I did find myself wondering how exactly yeasts could be flourishing in someone following the Atkins WOE (are you on Induction?), but if you only started a couple months ago, it could certainly have been a pre-existing condition merely manifesting itself now. And of course, sugar consumption isn't the only potential factor in developing an infection.

Although garlic is a p-o-w-e-r-f-u-l antimicrobial and I could imagine following that treatment if I had no other option... eeew.

Long story short: though yogurt and ACV have proven efficacy, your best bet for the itchies may still be an OTC miconazole product.

[Chicklady]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

your best bet for the itchies may still be an OTC miconazole product.

Do you have a brand name or two? I've never been down the "itch" isle

[HellOnWheels]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

None in particular that I'd endorse over another -- the store brands have always done the job for me -- but I'll be glad to PM you more information!

As a final note, returning to your original question: kefir is a fantastic source of probiotic bacteria, but at twelve net carbs per 8-oz serving, it'll need to wait till you're further into OWL. Probiotic supplements may be your best bet for now.

[Chicklady]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

My Lifeway says 12 carbs 4 fiber for a net of 8. I generally use it as a base for my salad dressing-kill two birds with one stone so to speak. I added it back the second I hit rung 2....cause I reallllllly need it for regularity (shhhh)

[HellOnWheels]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

You must be buying their organic line -- you're right, it's lower in carbs than the conventional kind. And did you really say "shhhh" about something you just posted to a public bulletin board? Don't worry, your secret's safe with me... and the other hundred-some-odd people reading this thread, I hope!

[Chicklady]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

LOL. It wasn't a serious "shhhh". i just figure if ricotta at 10 net grams per cup is OK, then kefir at 8 net carbs should be

[HellOnWheels]

Re: Can someone clear this up?

You're absolutely right. For some reason I thought you were doing Induction -- thus proving once more how dangerous it is to assume -- and didn't want to send you off to buy kefir if you hadn't reached the dairy rung of OWL yet. In that case... have at it!!