Sugar and your Cookie
Tis the season for the delightful scents of sugary buttery goodness
By Alannah Codrington BASc., CNP
The not so sweet connection between sugar and your cookie
It's almost that time of year again, the holiday season is just around the corner and with it comes family, festive times and sweets! For many of us this means work parties, community group parties and family parties with an abundance of sweet treats present and filling our homes. Of course, as per usual the sweets will look very, very, very enticing and they’ll come with delightful scents of sugary buttery goodness.
So why not indulge? We’re not here to shame you, and though ignorance is bliss, having an itchy, inflamed, even overly pungent or ‘off-smelling’ cookie, better known as vagina, is not exactly our idea of bliss. Therefore, we are here to give you some insight as to why discomfort may happen, provide some tips to limit the sweets and support you in making conscious and informed choices.
Two Common Vaginal Infections
There are a few conditions that result in an infection or inflammation of the vagina known as "vaginitis." Some can be more strongly associated with sexually transmitted diseases than others.
Two common infections, bacterial vaginosis and candida/ yeast infections, can be related to various factors, including good ol’ sugar.
Bacterial vaginosis - The most common vaginal infection and caused by the bacterial overgrowth.
According to the Mayo Clinic, It is usually indicated by symptoms including:
Thin, gray, green, or white discharge
Fishy vaginal odor
Vaginal itching
Burning during urination
Yeast or Candida Infection - As stated on WebMD, three out of four adult women will get at least one yeast infection during their lifetime. Yeast grows in various places around our body and usually is okay. However when too much yeast grows in the vagina because of various factors, including too much sugar, this can result in a yeast infection. And oh yes, men can also get genital yeast infections too, but it's less common.
Symptoms include:
Vaginal itchiness that increases as infection grows
Redness and swelling of the vagina and vulva (the outer parts of the female genitals)
Pain and burning when you pee
Discomfort during sex
A thick, white “cottage cheese” discharge from the vagina
A man with a yeast infection may have an itchy rash on his penis.
Oh my Sugar!
As described in a Bustle article,
"Eating a lot of foods high in sugar may increase the likelihood of a woman acquiring a vaginal yeast infection in the right environment," Christine Greves, MD, OB/GYN, tells Bustle. "Yeast absolutely loves sugar, warmth and moisture. Foods that are high in sugar [...] can increase a woman's risk for having that if the environment is warm and moist; for example, if [the person] does not change their workout bottoms after sweating at the gym for a few hours, [it could create this type of environment]."
So… Vaginas Have Bacteria Down There?
Yes. A lot. “Healthy vaginas have a naturally acidic pH, as well as a host of healthy bacteria that ward off infections and keep everything humming along as designed, says Mary Rosser, M.D., Ph.D., ob-gyn at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. But the foods you eat can influence that pH, changing the way your nether region smells (and even tastes). For instance, spices, onions, garlic, red meat, dairy, asparagus, broccoli, and alcohol can all affect the natural balance you’ve got going on, while fruits and fruit juices may turn things especially sweet, Rosser says. But whatever the effect, it will only last for two to three days after you eat your fill.”
So What Can We Do?
Don’t despair, there are ways of reducing the likelihood of experiencing a common form of vaginitis.
Hydrate!
We already know water is super important for our body overall and here’s another reason. Water hydrates the vaginal walls and vulva area, supports the vaginal bacterial biome and water is super vital in regulating pH levels which in turn relate to the levels of bacteria down there. Try to aim for the 8 glasses of water, when you’re consuming the sweets, caffeine and/or alcohol, aim for more. You can also try to have a glass of water before you have a sweet and even after to wash the sugary sweetness away from your taste buds.
2. Set yourself up for success
Even when we’re full sometimes we can still make a little room for a sweet dessert, so then what’s it like when we’re starving and see the sugar first? Yikez! Try to eat a meal first with some hearty vegetables, a good protein source so that we can manage our blood sugar levels and reduce an intense sugar craving.
3. Avoid the scene
Avoid hanging out around the dessert and food table. Out of sight, out of mind. Especially when we don’t know many people at a gathering, we can tend to idly eat. This may seem simple, but it is helpful nonetheless.
4. Sugar free anyone?
With all the baking going on, maybe now is the time to test out a no sugar added dessert.
5. Portions
Ask yourself what are you eating the sweets for? Is it for nourishment? For boredom? For the love of sweets? We’re likely not looking to get our daily recommended intake from the dessert table, it’s likely because we want to indulge and enjoy the sweets. In that case our portions don’t have to be large, especially if you want to try a few desserts at the table. After we’ve drank, ate our meals, for dessert, next time try eating a small portion of dessert. Eat it slowly, really enjoy it and see if you’re satisfied.
To Sweet or not to Sweet?
The aim of the game here is to be mindful of the amount of sweets you have and have them in moderation. When you eat more mindfully and with intention, you can take the time to really enjoy the experience and not feel guilty about it and mindful eating can definitely make even a little taste of sweetness that much more satisfying!
It's the holidays you can enjoy yourself and it's also great to understand your body and be informed too.
If you'd like to experience a mindful eating workshop featuring Chocolate, yes you read that right.... CHOCOLATE!!! Contact info@WholeHeartedFood.com or see our past and upcoming events here www.WholeHeartedFood.com